CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Digitized by Microsoft® _ Cornell University Library F 457D3 H67 1883a History of Daviess County, Kentucky, tog olin 3 1924 028 845 787 Digitized by Microsoft® This book was digitized by Microsoft Corporation in cooperation witli Cornell University Libraries, 2007. You may use and print this copy in limited quantity for your personal purposes, but may not distribute or provide access to it (or modified or partial versions of it) for revenue-generating or other commercial purposes. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY DAVIESS COUNTY. KENTUCKY. TOaBTHBE WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDU- CATIONAL, KBLIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY; PORTRAITS OP PROMINENT PERSONS, BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. AND AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY, A REPRODUCTION BY UNIGRAPHIC, INC. 4400 JACKSON AVE., EVANSVILLE, INDIANA 1966 CHICAGO: INTER-STATE PUBLISHING CO. 1883. Digitized by Microsoft® Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.praAdetails/cu31924028845787 ^by PKEFACE. After months of unremitting labor the "History of Daviess County" is ready for our patrons. None can better understand than those who have assisted us, the difficulties to be met in the preparation of a work of this kind. Public documents have been examined, newspaper files have been reviewed, old settlers and prominent men have been visited for the purpose of making the record as complete as possible and gaining information of interest and value to the subscribers. The incompleteness of the public records and the conflicting statements have tended to perplex the compilers, but we trust in the main the work will prove satisfactory. Members of a family often differ as to the spelling of names, contradict each other's statements as to the dates of birth, settlement in the county, and nativity; we, therefore, have tried to give preference to the majority. While errors must necessarily occur under such circumstan,ces we feel that we have fulfilled our promises and have given as correct a record, historically and biographically, as it is possible to obtain. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do not realize the extent of our work, and therefore make no allowance for the many ways in which errors may occur, we feel sure that all thoughtful and just persons will appreciate our efforts, will recognize the great public benefit that has been accomplished, and will value the book as a memorial in the years to come of the lives and adventures of the early pioneers, of the lives of men prominent in political and business circles, and of individuals less prominent but none the less necessary to the county's history, that would otherwise have passed ipto oblivion. We tender our thanks to the pioneers, county officials, pastors of churches, officers of societies and members of the press for Digitized by Microsoft® PREFACE. tlieir kind assistance in the collation of data for this history. Especially are we thankful for the aid given us by those who have subscribed for the work, and trust that the pleasure they will have as the years go by, in recalling incidents that are related in its pages, will more than compensate for their untirin:.'- efforts to, make it a perfect history of Daviess County. For Chapter II., entitled "Bill Smothers," so replete with reminiscences of early settlement, we are indebted mostly to the story published by Colonel Thos. S. McCreery, in the Monitor several years ago. , INTER-STATE PUBLISHING CO. Chicago, May, 1883. Digitized by Microsoft® CONTENTS. HISTORY OF JBLEKTCCKY. Oatline History— State Offlcere— United States Senators— RepreBentatives in Congress- Eminent Men from Kentncky— Kentucky School Statistics— Illiteracy in Kentucky — Population- Census of 1880 17- HI8TORY OF DJLTIESS COVKTY. CHAPTER I. Early Settlement— Early Preachers- Other Early Officials- Miscellaneous Notes— A Retrospect 49-62 CHAPTER II. Bill Smothers 63 CHAPTER III. Life and Times of Robert Trlplelt 79 CHAPTER IV. Organic, Legal and Political— Origin of the County and of its Name — Surveys — Political Notes — Election Returns— Officials — The Courts — Federal Judicial District — County Courts- Bar Association 94-111 CHAPTER V. Sketches of Public Men 113-157 CHAPTER VL The Civil War— The Skirmish near Ovf ensboro —The Battle at Sutherland's Hill— The Death of Colonel Netter — War Diary Re- sumed— Kentucky under Martial Law — Owensboro captured — Owensboro Taken Again— Company A, First Kentucky Cav- i.lry-Sue Munday 158—178 CHAPTER VII. Material Progress — Population of Daviess County— Census of 1880, in Detail— Agricult- ural Census — Daviess County Agricultural and Mechanical Association — Daviess County Fair Association— Daviess County Farmers" Club — Daviess County Sorgho Sugar Company— Importation of Foreign Labor^— Greea River ^Iavigation — Green and B irreri River Navigation Company — Daviess County Gravel Road Companies— Telegraph —Railroads— Owensboro & Nashville R-ill- road— Proposed Railroads 179-196 CHAPTER VIII. The Press — Defunct Newspapers — Living Newspapers 197—206 CHAPTER IX. Authors and Artists — Song of the Hammock — A Remarkable Autograph Album. ..207— 222 CHAPTER X. Medical— The Owensboro Medical Society— The Green River Medical Association— The McDowell Medical Association— The Ken- tucky Pharmaceutical Association— Physi- cians of the Past-Present Physitiane SSS-I"* CHAPTER XI. Geology of Daviesi County— Physical Ffatnros —Rivers and Creeks— The Soil— Coal- Limestone and Sandstone— Other Minerals- Mineral Springs 846-263 '35 CHAPTER XII. Botany and Zoology— Tall Trees— Low Trees —Bushes and Shrubs— Vines— Native Hprbs —Weeds— Zoology— Wild Bees 263-274 CHAPTER XIII. Meteorology— Diary of Jospph Thomas— Tem- perature—Ohio Floods— The Flood oi 188.3— Miscellaneous ' 875-294 CHAPTER XIV. Miscellaneous — Court-House- Jail — Public Square — Poor House — Lost Records — 1 he First Will— Milita'y— Capital Punishment— MordtT of Robert McFarlaud— Murder of Willis Fields— Lod Dnke—Bducation— Tem- perance— Celebrations — Southern Relief — Land League — Archffiology — Daviess Coun- ty's Hunters' Club — The First Marriage- Marriage Record — First Steamboat Down the Ohio — Anecdotal — Distances Along the Ohio River, from Louisville to Cairo — Dis- tances on Green River— Distances by the 0. & N. R. R.—Post-Offlces— County Atlas— Owensboro Directory and County Gazetteer 295-320 CHAPTER XV. OwensborT — Morton's Day-Book — Yellow Banks, 181S— Owensboro in 1820— Fragment- ary Items- General Progress — Owensboro as a City— Owensboro in 1872 — Owensbnro In 1882— Population— City Officers— Indus- trial and Commercial — First Livery Stables —Tobacco Houses— Distilleries— Other En- terprises— Banks— Hotels — Owensboro In- dustries in 1830 321-358 CHAPTER XVI. Owensboro Continued— Edacational—Public Schools— Enrollment and Attendance— Ex- penses for Two Average Tears— Churches 359-386 CHAPTER XVII. Owensboro Continued— Benevolent Societies —Social and Miscellaneons Organization^- Cemeteries— Public Benevolence — Owens- boro Postmasters — Brief Mention — Bio- graphical 387-507 CHAPTER XVIII. Boston Precinct— Whitesville Village— Busi- ness-Educational-Religious— Elections- Biographical 508-554 Digitized by Microsoft® CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIX. CardBville Precinct — Early Settlement — Churches — Cnrdsville — Delaware — West LoQiBvIUe — Possani Trot— Elections— Bio- Jtraphical 555-590 CHAPTER XX. Knottsville Precinct— Early Settlement- Poet- ofaceB—Charches— Societies— KnottBVille— Creeks— Elections— Biographical — 591-630 CHAPTER XXI. Lower Town Precinct— Bon Harbor— Elections —Biographical 631-667 CHAPTER XXII. Masonville Precinct— Early Incidentc— Trib- bel School-House- Churclies — Masonic- Mason ville— Elections-Biographical, 658-71 1 CHAPTER XXIII. Murray Precinct— Early Settlement— Churches —Mills and Factories — Schools — Lewis Station— Newviile— Pleasant Ridge — Elec- tions— Biographical 712-7^5 CHAPTER XXIV. Oakford Precinct-Early Settlement- Gris- som's Landing-Birk Uity-Churches-Elec- tioDB- Biographical 7*-/(a CHAPTER XXV. Sorghotown Precinct - Elections-BiOKraph- ical 776;7a5 CHAPTER XXVI. Upper Town Precinct - Early Settlement- tTlstilleries-A Neighborhood Battle-Elec- tions-Biographical 7%-»7 Arnold, G. M 430 Atchison, J. D 113 And, Hillary T 6U4 And, Joseph 13 605 Aull, Benjamin T 605 Aull, 1. A 60:) Aull, Jnmcs (Mi Adll. rhoB. E 606 Aull, Wm. T 430 Ayer, A. 0 431 Baer, Beruhard 432 Bailey, Geo. W 725 Baird, Jami'S 816 Baker, Wm, P i-O'i Balee, Abram 765 Balce,J. W 173 Barker, R. N 6'i7 Barnrtt.D. L 433 Baruhill, .las. M liiJH Barnbill, Jeremiah 522 523 6117 638 323 BarDtiin,Jo-f:ph Barnhill, N. B. Barr, John A. .. Barrett, R. C... Bnrllett, J. .4 .. Bartletl, S W, Bauijhn, S. C 837 Beli; R. G 8'8 Bellow, Wm. E 638 Bennett, Isaac 778 Bennett, Jas. H 726 Bennult, S. W .... 727 Berkohiie, K. Y 433 Berry, J. 1 6i9 Berry, J. L 007 Berry, Mrs. S. A 639 Beiry, S. T 639 Bery, Thomas 803 Buthcl. J .hn K 570 Bethel, T. P 670 Bcvier, Col. R. .'* 209 Bibb, Hon. G. M 114 Birk, Geo. W 85^ Birk, JamcK A 765 Birkhea'i, J. F 52(1 Bise, Samuel 8511 Bishop, J. il 4b4 Bishop. R. H H4 Bivcus, James S 837 Blanrtford, A. P 5711 Blaudlbrd, J. M 747 Blandrord, J. R 571 lilaiulforil, T W 22« Board, Eli.i 'lb B.i9 Boewell, Chajimaii 571 Boswell, Rjv C. C 571 BoswH.Qeo, W 8^9 ISotteuwisn-., J. S 135 Bolfi. Bei J . . S03 Buul«!lr' , C. t.. (1411 Bouiwa c,M. F 04U Boulware, W. W ...435 BowldB. B.J 608 Bowlds, J. D 698 Bowlds, L. A 667 Bowlds, P. J 608 Bowlds, Zachariah 609 Boyd, Baker 115 Kransford, Bern 437 Braneford, C. W 202 Brauu, JohnW 438 BrisLOW, Jasper 66** Brodie, Robert 439 Bi ooks, Rev. A. J 837 Brooks, B M 439 Brooks, George 526 Brotherton, John 439 Brown, D. H 669 Brown, J, A 803 Brown, J.J 571 Brown, J. P 440 Brown, O. 0 727 Bryan, Gabriel 572 Bryan, R. A 641 Bryant, Ottaway 669 Bryant, Samuel 641 Burdett, P. H 888 Burnett, L M 728 liurnett, W. G 440 Burton, Horace 527 Burton, J. A 670 Biirlon, J, B 671 Burns, John P 838 Cain C. T 868 I t'aihoon, Geo. L 778 I '.'alhoou. Mitcbe'l .., 779 Digitized by Microsoft® CONTENTS. Calhoon, Rev. S 779 Caihoon, William 188 ..Camp, (ieo. F 675! Camp, J. W 673 Camp, Squire A 671 Campbell, J . E 641 Carrico, £1. B 57^) Carico, Henry SW Carrico, Jotiu T ra9 C^enter, H. F ai8 Ctt«jjr, Jonn W 441 Cary,.Cliii8. M BSd CasiMn, J. A 609 Caatlflti, L. P 805 cuambera, S. L 441 Obasmaa, J. K 442 :G**lEia», W. U 442 TcnlldreBB, T. J 757 Cllilsttan, Charles 528 Clarfe^^^ E 573 CtarU«(«mphA 806 Cla|^Pd%,W „ S5» ^^OfS^e*^?.-- 839 Clw|%^. J". 443 CUf(ke:,F. W 806 "Cla^fcb.Wm. H 443 ClayKon, Frank 573 ClaytuD.F.L 444 Olayton.J.M m.J Clements, A. H 609 Clemems, C. 0 610 Clements, J. U blO Clemeiits, J. T 573 Cofer, Col. M. H 117 Ooffey, G. W 44i Coben, Wm. H 339 Conley.l'.o 573 Conway,P.F 7e8 Cook, J. H 6T3 Cook, Samuel 673 Cooke, S. C 574 < Coomes, Ben 1} 807 Coomes, Hillary F 61 1 Cooper, U. J 5a8 Cottrell, C. E 289 Courtney, J. N 445 Courtney, W.T 445 Crouse, Jacob 611 Cox, (ieorge H 444 Cox, J. P 330 Crabtree, Colson 64-2 Crabtree, Eldred 64* Crabtree, Jobn 574 Crabtree, Solomon 840 Crabtree, Wm. J 840 • Crane, D. P 369 Cray croft, Thos. A 118 Ciigler, 1'.; 529 Crinnian, L A 7,.... Mt „„,....^ .^ ..869 Hngerman, Gilbert 678 Hale, Caleb 635 Hale, JoBiah 231 Haley, J. H 734 Hall, Joseph 576 H. II, Miner 735 Hall, Richard 677 llambleton, Edwin 7'.« Hamilton, M. W 536 Hariun, J. A 64'> Harl, Thos. H 517 Harl,Th08.L 677 Harral8on,B F 234 Harralson, R. A 577 Harris, Phocian 6T9 Harrison, J. G 614 Hairisou, S. G 679 Harrison, S. H 462 Hathway, John C 861 Havvjs, Ben W., Sr ,. 862 llawes, Ben W., Jr 862 HiLwes, Richard 862 Haydcn, C. L 578 Hayden, Geo. S 811 Hayden, H. N 578 Ha. den,.). S 578 Hayden, W. J 812 Haynef, r, L 536 Hayni'S. Geo. F 125 Haynes, R. E 462 Haynee, Samuel 680 Hazel, Richard H 615 Hazel, Thos. E 615 Hazel, Wm. S 615 Head, B. F 645 Head, Elisha 616 Head, Henry B 636 Head, James A 812 Head, James F 578 Head, John 579 Head, Thos. B 616 Head, Wm. B 616 Heavrin, J. P 234 Hebard, A 770 Helm.B. H 126 Helmke, Adolph 463 Hemingway, Geo. M 841 Hennig, C. E 579 Henninjj, H. E 617 Henning,J.A 617 Hewlett, Wm. T 735 Hickman, J. H 463 Hickman, W. A 2.33 lligdou, Uhas. N 617 Higdon, John A 618 Higdon, R.A 464 Higdon, Richard 618 Higgins, J.T 404 Hill, Jacob 579 Hill, John R 812 Hill, William 812 I Hike, A. S 770 Hindmiirch, Mathew .. .. 646 Ilite, Bcnonia 681 Hite,J. F 5.17 Hite.J.J «81 lllte. Thos. T 682 Hoard, Marcus D.. .. ^62 Hoard, Wi.i. E 863 Hohhs, Burr H 235 Hodgkins, J. H "65 Holmes, Co'. J. M 735 Holmes, Wm. E 23." Ilorn, Wm. T 813 Howard, A. G 5;;h Howard, F. M M2 Howard, Fred 73T Howard, Henry 737 Howard, .lohn 7;!) Howard, J. W 739 Howard, 8 B 738 Howard, S. D •. . 740 Howard, Thos. J 6''3 Hurter.H. J 740 Digitized by Microsoft® CONTENTS. Htt«k, George ■ • • 593 HuBk, Wm. J 61'> Igleliart. John L 842 Jackson, C. D 126 Jackson, Ctirisloplier 684 Jackson, Robert H 741 Jamison, J. A fi4ti ■ 'ohnson, Jas. L.. Iii7 Johnson, Pnilip T 386 Johnson, W. H 465 Johnson. Win. H 741 Jolly, Geo. W 128 Jones, D. D 814 Jonee, MilionE 539 Jones. Reuben S 685 Jones, Wm. H 646 Jones, Wm. J ,., 646 Jones, Wm. J 814 Kam, Jasper B 129 Karn, Wm. H 640 Kellem, J. C 647 Kelley, HiUery 647 Kelly, Joseph 863 Kennady, S. JO 466 Kennedy, John C 842 Kerrick, George W 843 Kilgors W. B 466 ;a«ibley,J. If •Z'A King, Thos. K 5S6 "tirk, Jas. A 687 lirk, John L 687 .irk, W. R 814 nott, Jas. 1 619 nott, Leonard 619 nox, Wm. R 540 ,ollenberg, Geo. A 467 ragar.Wm.J 77J ..acklin, Elijah 688 Lacklin, Fielden 689 Lacklin, Philip T 689 Lambert, l.W 6W Lambert, J. R 579 Lamping, Thoe. E 237 Lancaster, J. R ^47 Lancaster, N . M 648 Lanham, J. W 690 Lashbrook, Achillea . 690 ^aehbrook, J. W 6511 jashbrook, Norria ' 69i i^ashbrook, S. B 743 Lea, W. T 648 Lee, David P 643 Lehman, Frank L 620 Lehrberg, C. K 468 Leibfried, Jacob 815 Lewie, R. M 69:) Linton, Jas. P 580 Lltsey, Geo. W Ml Little, Lucius P 129 Lloyd, J. W 742 Lloyd, Thos.H 642 Lockhart, C. J 238 Lockhart, S. M ..' 238 Long, Jas.B 815 Long, S W 468 Lossie, Wm. & Co 469 Lostntler, Wm 815 Lucas, W. J 869 Lumpkin, Lee 3«'l Lyddane, J. A 680 Maddux, Tapley 695 Magruder, D. A 743 Marshall, S. G 744 MarUn, Jas. W 869 Martin, I. T 616 Martin, Thos. D 695 Martin Wm 816 Maltingly, Geo. D 470 Mattingly J. C 471 Matting'v, M. H 620 Mattingly, M P 471 •Matdniily M. S 131 May, Almariau 744 May, James H ,. 518 May, James M 620 May, Junius 745 May.Richard 746 May, William 745 McAtee,A. J 746 McAtee, T. W 471 HcBride, Wm 621 McCain, Alfred 581 McCain, Henry H 681 McCartv, James W 544 McCarty, John N 581 McCarty, Justin 546 Mccarty, W. W 648 McCormick, B. S 747 McCormick, EnoB 816 McCormick, Francis 695 McCormick, J. K 817 McCreery, Hon. T. 0 133 McDaniel, Chrysostum 621 McDaniel, H> nry 621 McDaniel, John 621 McDaniel, John H 623 McDaniel, Reason 622 McDonald, John 619 McParland, B, W 5S1 McFarland Hon. J. H 65 McGehee,M P 698 McHenry, J. H , Sr 134 McHenry, J. H., Jr 135 Mc Johnson. R. P 473 McLean, L. A 649 MiPherson, W. Y 472 Medcalf.Wm. D 622 Merimee, R. A 58i Miller, A B 472 Miller, Jas C 699 Miller, John A 473 Miller, P.J 473 Miller, Robert 628 Miller, W. E 816 Miller, Wm. L 645 Millett. E. P 475 Mills, Wm. H 864 Milne, Colin R 476 Milton, James 546 Miichell, Archelaue. 649 Mitchell, Chas. B 476 Mitchell, W. R 844 Mobberly, C.L 748 Mobberly, Wm. P 700 Monarch, D. A 62;) Monarch, M . V 871* Monarch, Richard 477 Monarch. Thomas 817 Monarch, T. J 478 Monsrch.W.H '. 819 Montgomery, Athanaus ..! ! 819 r.oore.J.Z 136 Moore, R. Q 790 Moore, Wm. H ' 478 Moorman, John ... 479 Moredock, J. L 791 Morel and, Reuben 650 Morgan. Geo. W 682 Morris, H. H 819 Morrlion, J. A 830 Moseley, Isaac P 844 Moseley, J. B 844 Mo8eley,J.J 650 Moseley, J. W 646 Moseley, Merit C 845 Muflitt. Wm 623 Mullican, J. S 791 Munday, J. A 203 Murphy, C. M 845 Nawz. C G 821 Neel, Goo. W 547 Nelson, Mrs. E. J.. . 651 Ne6bitt,J H 379 Newman, N.M 773 Newson Wm. P . ....".. 6'^4 Newton, Col. Wm .... 821 Noel, Charles T 701 Nunn, Robert B 479 O'Bryan.P. B 737 O'Bryan, J. R 634 O'Plynn , Eugene 748 Ogf. en, Marcus L 480 Ogden,M.L 138 Orsburu, H. K 289 Orsburn. V 239 Osborne, Dabney T 582 Osborne, J. R 481 Osborne, si. W 651 Owen, Chas. A 748 Owen, Daniel. <» 716 Owen, Wm. T...*. 138 Palmer, Thomas 482 Parrish, James H 488 Pate,M. C 647 Pate, Wm. T 822 Patrick, Robert 661 Patterson, James M 793 Payne, Geo D 822 Payne, J. L 625 Payne. J. T 626 Payne, P. E 828 Payne, S. T 625 Payne, S. W ^26 Payne, Thos. H 823 Pendleton, B. C 773 Perkins, Wm.H 139 Perry, John W «52 Pettif, Thomas S 1B9 Pierce, I N 792 Porter, John W 483 Pottiuger, R. B 483 Pottinger, Wm 824 Powei s, J. D 139 Priest, C. R 774 Pnrcell,P. P B48 Pnrdy,W. E 775 Qncen, J. P 652 Ru^Bdale, Robert 548 RaniBey,BeuP 649 Ray, James 703 Read. Philander 749 Reinhardl, J. W 652 Reinhardt, W. t'. and Bros. 484 Reno, Lawson 484 Reynolds,J. W 583 Reynolds, T. J 583 Rhodes, Geo. S B51 Rhodes, Geo. W 560 Richardson, I. B 702 Riddle, Worden 864 Ritihtmeyer, Louis 653 Ritchey, Jeflerson 626 Roberts, C. C 864 Roberts, Geo. W 864 Roberts, Henry B 886 Roberts, John 226 Robertson. D. C 846 Roby, Geo. W 626 Rock.Rev.P. M.J 637 Rodman, J. H 583 Rodman, R. M .688 Rodman, W. E 684 Rose.M. H 792 Rosenthal, Bernhardt. . 485 Rof8,JohnC 485 Rothchild, Joseph 486 Rowland, G. B 627 gahy,O.M : 846 Kudd, James C 486 Rudy. Charles ... .'. 407 Russell, James W 750 hussell, John B 7B0 Russell. J. D 865 Ryon,P. P 751 Sands, Merit 653 Sawyer, James 488 Schenk, Nelson B 865 Schwab, Eugene 488 Schweikarth, Henry 584 Scobee. Rev. Joseph S 489 Scott, H. W 14« Seiber, John A 289 Digitized by Microsoft® CONTENTS. Shadwick, Benj 865 Shaw, Emerson T93 Sbobe.Andrew 8%4 Shoemaker, Wm. W 703 Short, William 846 Shortell.J.D HO Shouec, James 6>!7 Shaltz, Charles 653 Blmms.Wm B85 Sims, JamesM 581 Skillman, Gilbert 751 Slack, R. W Ul Slaaghter, Jkiseph W 490 Smeathers. Harold 866 Smith, George 4W Smith, Jacob 4fll 8mith, James B 585 Smith, John H 491 Smith, Joseph H 627 Smith, Nicholas 493 Smith, Willis 653 Smith, W.T 5S5 Salomon. J. B 37^ SoBb.J.M 654 Speak, Lewis 628 Spencer, Geo. W 629 Spilman, Wm. N I?66 ^pringfleld, Wm. J - 240 ^teyens, George 551 Stinnett, Jamea L 552 SUrman, M. G 141 Stirman, W. D 492 Stockton, Joseph F 552 Stone, Wiji.A 563 Stone,Wm. S 654 Stoat, Joseph H 4P3 Stnart, James 141 Stnart, W. A 144 Sweeney, Hod. Wm. N. . . 144 Talbott, Geo. W 752 Tanner, Benjamin 753 Taylor, E. P. and B. H . . . . 145 Taylor, John 825 Taylor.J. H 493 Taylor, J. T 704 Taylor, Joseph 704 Taylor.K. W. 586 Taylor, Thos. fi 705 Taylor, Wm. P 706 Taylor, Capt. Wm.J 706 Tennis, Mrs. Christina .... 655 Terrell, Joshua C 494 Tharp, James K 491 Thlxton, Charles G 495 Thixton, -John 495 Thomas, Charles W 754 Thomas, Joseph 146 Thompson,- C.P 586 Thompson, J. A 586 Thompson, J. T 656 Thompson, Leo 587 Thompson, M. B 793 Thompson. W. R 687 Thomson, Geo. N 496 Thrufcton, Alfred 866 Tlchenor, Manley B 825 Todd, Beverly H 496 Todd.C. H -'40 Todd, Col. C. S 151 Todd,B. P 154 Tompkins, A. C 496 Tone, Oscar 666 Trice, O. S 794 Trlplett, Geo. V 205 Triplett, Geo. W 154 Trlplett, Phil I.i7 Trlplelt,J. H 825 Triplett, J. H., Jr 497 Trontmen, J. P 499 Trnmmell, J%siah....".. . 499 Turner, J. R 754 Turnham, Josephus 866 Tyler, W. B 600 Vanover, James M $46 Vanover, James, Jr 847 Vanover JeptlU 847 Vanovef, John S 847 Vanover, W.W 848 Vowells,C. W 68T Voweta; Charles 821 Walden.S.V 600 Walker, Jas. R 794 Walker, Wm. T 867 Wall.JosephB 587 Waltrip.Gf. R b88 Waltrip, John f. 688 Wandllnc, John 501 Ward. Walter 653 Ware, Ellas M 826 Ware. James W 708 Warren, John 0 688 Wathen, Henry B 628 Watkins.P. J 502 Watkins, S. S 242 Wayne, M.N 589 Webber, Simeon D 867 Weber, Martin H 5(i2 Weiliel, Michael , . . . mi Wuill, Erneirt ',.. 603 Weir, James v.... 207 Weir, John G t... 503 Welden, James M BS9 Wells,Emmet 867 Wells, laham 654 Wells, J. G 756 W^-eler, William B 689 Wiiitehead, J. M 604 Wile, Sol. und Sons 604 Wilhite, 6. A. R.... 708 Wilhite, John H 755 WilkereoD, C. E 8« Wilkinson, Edward IBS Wilkinson, N. H S43 Williams. Geo. W 147 Williams, Jeptha 755 Williams, John J 827 Williatas, R. T 709 Williams, Samuel rit- ish batteries there placed, to spike the cannon, destroy the car- riages, then regain their boats and cross over to the fort. The residue of the brigade was ordered to land upon the southern shore and fight their way through the Indians tt) the fort. These orders would have been easily executed, had the troops been well drilled, and had the object of Harrison, which was to silence the batteries, been distinctly understood by the officers. These batteries were slightly guarded, and the Indian force was on the opposite side of the river. Clay received the order from Hamilton and directed him to communicate it to Colonel Dudley, who was charged with the execution. Dudley does not seem to have thoroughly understood the object of Harrison, and he did not communicate to his subordinates the precise nature of his orders. The great mass knew nothing more than that they were to light an enemy on the northern shore, and were totally ignorant that when the cannon were spiked and the carriages destroyed their object was accomplished. They accordingly ruslied upon the batteries, and the real object of the expedition was accomplished. A small force of Indians and Canadians, however, showed them- selves upon the skirts of the wood, and opened a straggling lire, which was eagerly returned by the Kentackians, and the retreat- ing enemy was hotly followed up, in considerable disorder, for nearly two miles. The detachment was dispersed in small parties, no general command was retained over it, and no one seems to have understood that they were to retreat rapidly to their boats as soon as the cannon were spiked. The consequences were such as might have been predicted. Proctor came up with the British force and intercepted their retreat; the Indians crossed over in great numbers, and reinforced the retreating party, which had decoyed the Kentuckians into the woods, and the whole detachment, with the exception of about 1.50 men, was killed or taken. The prison- ers were taken within the walls of the old British fort below under a very slender guard, and while liuddled together in this place, Digitized by Microsoft® HisruRY OF KUN'recivY. 29 the Indians aurased themselves by shooting and scalpinp; them. This cruel sport continued until it was interrupted by the arrival of Tecumseh at full gallop, who instantly, and with great indig- nation, put a stop to the massacre. On the wliole, the 5th of May was disastrous to the American army. The news of tlie capture ol' Fort George by General Dear- born, liowever, alarmed Proctor, and the little effect produced by Ilia fire, togetlier with the large force whicli had reinforced Harri- son, induced liim to abandon tlie siege and return to Maiden. The force under Proctor, inchiding Indians, was probably 3,200 men; Harrison's force, including Clay's brigade, about 2,500, rank and lile, lit for duty. Proctor remained quiet at Maiden, organiz- ing an Indian force for a second invasion of Ohio. Harrison re- mained at Upper Sandusky, engaged in preparing for decisive operations in the fall. The Secretary had now learned tlie importance of commanding Lake Erie. Lieutenant Perry, of the navy, liad been detached from the squadron under command of Chauncey, on Lake Ontario, to superintend the equipment of a fleet on Lake Erie, and take command of it wlicn ready for service. The crisis of the cam- paign arrived, and on tlie 10th of September the flotilla of Lieu- tenant Perry engaged the British fleet under Captain Barclay, a British officer of great experience, who had fought under Nelson at Trafalgar. Tlie number of men in the respecta\'^e squadrons was nearly equal. The British vessels carried sixty-three guns, and the Americans fifty-four. The British had six vessels, and the Americans nine. Seven of the American vessels were mei-e gunboats, most of them carrying only one gun, and none of them more than three, while the remaining two, the Lawrence and Niagara, carried twenty guns each. A detachment of 150 of the lientucky volunteers served on board of Perry's fleet as marines, and iqjon this new element acquitted themselves with the greatest bravery. The action began between eleven and twelve o'clock, with scarcely a breath of air to stir the bosom of tlie lake. Perry in the Lawrence, accompanied by two of the small ve.ssel.s, bore down u])on the e'lomy, but was not closely followed by Lieutenant El- liott in the Niagara, and the rest of the sjnall \essels. For two hours Perry remained exposed to the fire of the whole Bi-itish fleet, by which his vessel was cut to ),)iccos, and three fourths of liis crciw killed and wounded. EUiotf dnring this time was never Digitized by Microsoft® 30 HISTOKY OF K?;XTUCKr. within less tlian half a mile of the enemy, and the remainder of the fleet was not nearer than a mile and a half, save the two small vessels that accompanied him. By two o'clock Perry's vessel was totally disabled, but the rest of the fleet was but little injured. The lake was so smooth that the distant gun-boats, from their long twenty-four and thirty-two pounders, threw their shot with great y)recision, and had made themselves felt in the action; but Elliott's brig, which formed so essential a part oi the force, had as yet an- noyed the enemy but little, and had fouglit principally with two twelve-pounders, the only long guns she had. At two o'clock Perry left the La'WTence iinder command of her Lieutenant, and in an open boat rowed to tlie Niagara. Upon Perry's expressing dissatisfaction at the manner in which the gunboats were man- aged, Elliott volunteered to bring them up. He left the Niagara in a boat for that purpose, and passed swiftly down the line, or- dering them to cease flring, and by the combined use of their sweeps and sails, to press forward into close action. Instantly a new impulse was given to the whole line. The well-known signal for close action was now seen flying from the Niagara, and after a delay of fifteen minutes to enable the gun-boats to come up. Perry bore down upon the British line, passed through it, and delivered a raking fire of grape and canister, from both broadsides, at half pistol-shot distance. The dreadful cries from the Queen Charlotte and Lady Provost, which followed this close and murderous discharge, announced the fatal accuracy with which it had been delivered. The gun-boats were now within pis- tol-shot and a tremendous cannonade, accompanied by the shrill, clear notes of many bugles from the English vessels, announced that they expected to be boarded, and were summoning their board- ers to repel the anticipated assault. No boarding, however, was attempted. The superior weight of the American mettle was now telling, in close fight, when the full power of their cannonades was felt, and in fifteen minutes the enemy surrendered, with the excep- tion of two of their smallest vessels which attempted to escape. The attempt proved fruitless, and the whole fleet of the enemy became the prize of the captors. The loss on both sides, owing to the dreadful slaughter on board the Lawrence, was nearly equal. The American loss was twenty-seven killed and ninety-six wounded considerably more than half of which was sustained by the crew of the Lawrence. This victory, never surpassed in splendor, was decisive of the fate of the campaign. On the 5th of October, Gov- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. 31 ernor Shelby, with 4,000 Kentuckians, reinforced General Harrison, and took part in the brilliant victor}- of the river Thames, which closed the hostilities in the Northwest. The most brilliant event of tlie last war was the battle of New Orleans. It created a deep sensation at the time, and the vast political consequences which have resulted from it have engraved it deeply and indelibly upon the minds of the American people. Twenty-five hundred Kentucky militia under Major General John Thomas took part in this great battle. Less than one fourth of them were armed, as their arms werejon flat-boats that did not amve until after the engagement. After the close of the war, tlie civil history of Kentucky is memorable by the dreadful monetary derangement which led.to the passage of the relief laws, and gave rise to the most embittered and violent conflict of parties which has ever occurred in Kentucky. In 1816 George Madison was elected Governor. He died a few months after his election, and Gabriel Slaughter, the Lieutenant- Governor, became Governor unti 1 1820. In the meantime the financial affairs of the civilized world were in a state of painful disorder. The long wars of the French revolution had banished gold and silver from circulation as money, and had substituted an inflated paper currency, by which nominal prices were immensely inhanced. At the return of peace, a restoration of specie payments and the return of Europe to industrial pursuits, caused a great fall in the nominal value of commodities, accompanied by bankruptcy upon an enormous scale. In Kentucky the violence of this crisis was enhanced by the charter of forty independent banks, with an aggregate capital of nearly $10,000,000, which were by law per- mitted to redeem their notes with the paper of the Bank of Ken- tucky, instead of specie. These independent banks were chartered at the session of 1817-'18. The Bank of Kentucky had then resumed specie pay- ments, and was in good credit. In the summer of 1818 the State was flooded with the paper of these banks. The consequences were such as might have been anticipated. Speculation sprang up in all directions. Large loans were rashly made and as rashly expended. Most of these bubbles exploded within a year, and few were alive at the end of two years. In the meantime the pressure of debt became terrible, and the power to replevy judgments was extended by the Legislature from three to twelve months by an act passed at the session of 1819-'20. Digitized by Microsoft® /,^' HT^^Tll^'^■ "1" KKNrr<'K.''i'. (^iii-nit: t!i! suiiiiiior of i^-fn th'/ •'■ry t'«v fiirtlior rolieC i.i.'caiu..' o.xTwliolniitii:-, iiiKi va.-t iiriifirifu.'^ nf bi.th Houses wfix- pU'ilgoil lu^oino !iiuiiH\i!e wliicli sliMuld i-nlu'vr. tiie (iebroi- froiu tin; I'oris.e- qiK'iic- <)t' iii< i-;l^1uu>.ss. Tlic reign nf jioliticai .nuickcrv was in it;^ iri'^i'v. (TeiuTiil A'hiir iiail bi'ou oJoctoil Govtiruoi- ofKentuclsy ill 1S2(). nid i.eiirtily t-onoiiiTed witli t.lio [.ogislatnve in the acts ]i;i,->rij at tlie oiisuing .-e~si.iu. Tliu groat cry oftiie ]>eo])1c was for numev, inul tli'/ir licaviesit CDiuplaint was debt. Tlicretbre tlie LogiftJaturc ni' 1-?l'()-'i'1. chartered the bank cuUed the Bank of the ('onniu)M\vealt!i, wiiicli was relieved from all danger of su,s])ension, Ijy ncington. It was the policy of the great Jackson party of the United States to destroy this institution entirely, and the re-election of Jackson in 1832 sealed its doom. It became obvious to all that its charter would not be renewed, and the favor- ite policy of that party was to establish State banks throughout the Union tosui^py its place. As soon as it became obvious that the charter of the Bank of the Hiii'-ed States would not be renewed, the Legislature of Kentucky Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF KENTUOKT. 35 at its sessions of 1833-'34:, established the Bank of Kentnclcj, titfi Northern Bank of Kentucky, and the Bank of Lonisville, the flrat with a capital of $5,000,000, the second with a capital of $3,000,- 000, the third with a capital of $2,000,000. The result of this enormus multiplication of State banks throughout the United States, consequent upon the fall of the Na- tional Bank, was vastly to increase the quantity of paper money afloat, and to stimulate the wildest spirit of speculation. Daring the years of 1835-36 the history of one State is the history of all. All rushed into the market to borrow money, and eagerly projected plans of railroads, canals, stock-water, navigation and turupike- roads, far beyond the demand of commerce, and in general with- out making any solid provision for the payment of the accruing interest, or reimbursement of the principal. This fabric was too baseless to endure. In the spring of 1837, all the banks of the Union suspended specie payments. Kentucky was then in the midst of a scheme of internal improvement, upon which she was spending about $1,000,000 annually, embracing the construction of turnpike-roads and the improvement of her rivers, and she was eagerly discussing raih'oad projects on a princely scale. In this state of things the Legislature of 1837 met, and legalized the suspension of the banks, refusing to compel them to resume specie payments, and refusing to exact the forfeiture of the charters. Specie disappeared from circulation entirely, and the smaller coin was replaced by paper tickets, issued by cities, towns and individuals, having a local currency, but worthless be- yond the range of their immediate neighborhood. The banks in the meantime were conducted with prudence and ability. They forebore to press their debtors severely, but cautiously and grad- ually lessened their circulation and increased their specie, until, after a suspension of a little more than onej'ear, they ventured to resume specie payment. This resumption was general throughout the United States, and business and speculation again became buoyant. The latter part of 1838 and nearly the whole of 1839 witnessed an activity in business and a fleeting prosperity which somewhat resembled the feverish order of 1835 and 1836. But this seeming prosperity was only transitory. In the autumn of 1839 there was a second general suspension of specie payment, with the exception of a few Eastern banks. It became obvious that the mass of debt could not much longer be staved off. Digitized by Microsoft® 36 HISTORY OF KENTTJCKY. Bank receipts multiplied in every direction. All public improve- ments were suspended, and Kentucky was compelled to add fifty percent to her direct tax or forfeit her integrity. In the latter part of 1841 and in the year 1842, the tempest, so long suspended, burst in full force over Kentucky. The dockets of her courts groaned under the enormous load of law-suits, and the most frightful sacri- fices of prosperity were incurred by forced sales "under execution. The revival of the ancient Relief party again assumed a formidable appearance in the elections of 1842, but was encountered in the Legislature with equal skill and firmness. The specie measures of the Relief party were rejected, but liberal concessions were made to them in other forms, which proved satisfactory to the more ra- tional members, and warded off the fury of the tempest which at first threatened the most mischievous results. The middle term of the Circuit Courts was abolished; the magistrates were com- pelled to hold four terms annually, and forbidden to give judg- ment, save at their regular terms. The existing banks were re- quired to issue more paper, and give certain accommodations for a longer time and a regular apportionment. During the years 1843 and 1844 society gradually assumed a more settled and pros])erous state. In 1836 Judge Clark was elected Governor; Robert P. Letche in 1840, and Judge William Owsley in 1844. General Har- rison was before the people as a Presidential candidate during the years 1836 and 1840, and was warmly supported by the party in Kentucky wliicli successively bore the name of "Anti-Relief" "Old Court," "National Republican" and "Whig." In 1844 Clay was a second time before the people as a candi- date for the Presidency, and was opposed by James K. Polk of Tennessee, a member of the old Jackson party. Clay was sup- ported as usual in Kentucky, with intense and engrossing ardor, and obtained its electoral vote by a majority exceeding 9,000. He was supported by the Whig party of the Union with a warmth of personal devotion which has seldom been witnessed, and was never surpassed in the annals of popular government. The great national issue involved in this election was the annexation of Texas to the United States. Polk was the champion of the party in favor of annexation, and Clay opposed it as tending to involve the coun- try in foreign war and internal discord. The annexation was ac- complished, but tiie war followed in its train. In May, 1846, began the war with Mexico, which, however, parties in Kentucky differed as to its policy or its justice, so struck Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OV KENTDCK.T. ST the popular chord as to eu\ist 1.3,700 volunteers, wliich the Gov- ernor had called for and conld accept less than 5,000 men. The war closed trhunphantl)- for the United States in 18i8, by the an- nihilation of the Mexican anriies and the capture of the Mexican capital. In IS-ts, upon the might)- wave of exultation. General Zach- ary Taylor was home into the presidency. The life-Iongclaims of Kentucky's greatest sons were sot aside and the excited nation placed the victorious soldier at tlie helm of tlie state. With the inauguration of Taylor came the demand of California for admission as a State, and tlie necessity of providing territorial (-rovernments for the other acquisitions which the United States had Jiniade. AVith tliese demands came the exciting question whether the States to be cars^ed out of the new domain should be free or slave States. The advocates of the Wilmot proviso on the one hand, and the advocates of the obliteration of any geographical line restricting- the extension of slavery on the other, waged loud and clamorous wrangle in every hamlet of the Union, and fiercest of all in the council halls of the nation. The election of General Taylor to the Presidency had forever blighted what was supposed, by both friends and opponents, to be the cherished ambition of Kentucky's peerless son, Henry Claj' — his election to the Presidency. Stricken in years, and with waning physical strength, a purer and loftier ambition for a time aroused all the energies of his gallant soul. Resuming his seat in the Sen- ate of the United States, the grandest period of his life was its close. Cass, Douglas, "Webster, Foote — men who had shivered many a lance upon his buckler — recognized the imperial grandeur of his efforts, and generously hailed him chief among the giants. Under his leadership the compromise measures of 1850 were adopted, resulting in the admission of California, without restriction of slavery (although her State Constitution had forbidden it), and in the extension of the Missouri Compromise line of 36° 30' through the new Territories, north of which slavery was interdicted, and south of which the people were permitted, in organizing their State Governments, to decide the question for themselves. And then Henry Clay sank to his last, long sleep, beneath the monument erected to the memory of his services, his genius and his fame. But with his death dropped, never to wave again in successful conflict in Kentucky, the Whig banner, which so proudly floated at the head of tlie hosts of his admiring followers. Digitized by Microsoft® 38 HIPTORT OF KENTUCKY. 'the question of calling a convention to revise and amend the Constitution of Kentucky, which was adopted in 1799, was twice approved by the people with remarkable unanimity. One hundred members were accordingly chosen, and May 7, 1850, the new Con- Btitntion was adopted by a popular majority of 61,361. June 3 the convention again assembled, adopted several amendments, and June 11 adjout-ned, after proclaiming the third, or present, Consti- tution. In 1851 the Democratic party succeeded in electing their candidate, Lazarus W. Powell. The two Houses of the General Assembly, however, were Whig. The tide ebbed in 1855, and by a com- bination between the Whig and Native American parties, Charles S. Morehead was elected Governor. In 1-856, under the impetus given by the position of John C. Breckenridge on the Democr^io ticket as candidate for the "Vice-Presidency, the State was, carried by the Democrats by ^n overwhelming majority; and in 1859 that organization elected its candidate for Governor, Beriah Magoffin, and succeeded in obtaining a decided majority in both Houses of the Legislature. In the meantime grave events had been occurring in Congress, and tihreatening and porteutious prominence was again nianifestiug itself in the question of slavery. The citizens of the slave-holding States heard with ill-repressed indignation the stigma cast upon the institution, and viewed with restless jealousy the attempt made by the Abolitionists to destroy it. The slave-holder believed the institution to be not only best for the social and agricultural de- velopment of the country, but a blessing to the slave, right in prin- ciple, correct in morals, and sanctioned by Divine command. The Abolitionist^, on the contrary, believed slavery an unmitigated curse to the slave, a dishonor to a free people, and blighting in its effects upon the dominant race: Many believed the institution ad- vantageous and desirable in certain localities, and were content to restrain it only by parallels of latitude. Many sought to evade decisive positions by taking refuge in the delusive sophistry of popular sovereignty, as exercised by Territorial Legislation. All shades of opinion not absolutely favorable to slavery, gradually molded themselves into a decisive opposition to the institution. In 1860 the encroaching party had assumed gigantic and formid- able dimensions, while the South stood desperately and determin- edly at bay; and, when Territorial Governments were about to be formed for Kansas and Nebraska, demanded that the Territorial Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. 30 restrictions by legislative enactment should be repealed, and that slavery should be allowed to go when climate, soil, and the wishes of the people, or the interests of the immigrants, should carry it. Yiolence, bloodshed, and rapine marked the contest on the soil of the new Territories; excitement, »nger and bitter recriminations, the discussions in Congress. The conservative men of the North finally yielding to the demands of the South, united with her rep- resentatives, and repealed the obnoxious restrictions. The repeal was the signal for an outbreak of popular excitement and denunci- ation in the North, such as her statesman had never previously encountered. In the conventions of 1860 the Democracy divided, one portion nominating Mr. Douglas as their candidate for the Presidency, the other nominating John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. jThe Whigs nominated John Bell, of Tennessee, and the Republicans, or de- clared enemies of the institution of slavery, nominated Abraliam Lincoln, of Illinois, but a native of Kentucky. The schism of the Democratic party and the' refusal of the Whigs to cooperate with either portion of it resulted in the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, by a plurality vote. Immediately, South Carolina se- ceded from the Union, followed by Georgia and all the Gulf States; ultimately by Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and Missouri. Then Kentucky found herself face to face with the mighty question, which had been so long threateningly evolving itself, and now in- exorably pressed for a solution. Kentucky had, more extensively than any of the older States, contributed to the population of the newer and younger States. The tastes of her people and their descendants were eminently and almost exclusively agricultural. In the gratification of these tastes^ and in the prosecution of pursuits kindred to such tastes, for nearly a third of a century, her youug and enterprising men had been accustomed to seek for themselves homes located in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. The ramifications of family ties were so extensive that State lines were practically ignored. Thousands of people found in Ohio and In- diana those occupations which provided daily sustenance, but re- turned at nightfall to sleep in Kentucky. These facts and their surroundings ought all to be carefully considered before admitting the justice of the denunciations of the North, so frequently pro- nounced against Kentucky as traitorous, or the taunts of th^ fiery South, that she was cowardly, avaricious, and more prone ta'pro^ Digitized by Microsoft® 40 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. tect her wealth than to defend her honor. The time came when, upon many a stricken field, in many a desperate and headlong charge, in full many a heady fight, the imputation of cowardice was answered — as it has not often been answered. It is not possible in this brief outline of the history of Kentucky to give a detailed account of the civil war. Kentucky remained neutral for one year, and then pledged herself to thg, cause of the Union. The war ceased in April, 1865, with the entire subjuga- tion of the South. All that the States-Kights men had prophesied would be accomplished if unresisted — all that the Union men had denied to be the object of the war — was accomplished; the South was conquered, the slaves were freed, and negro political equality recognized throughout the nation. JSTeighborhood strifes and an- imosities had been engendered in everj' village and hamlet. Men who had been playmates in boyhood, who under ordinary circum- stances would have gone through life leading for kindly support on each other, had found social ties disrupted, and persecuted each other with vindictive hate. Mothers wept in every household for the lost darlings who were sleeping the sleep of the brave, in both Federal and Confederate uniforms? But the terms of peace had hardly been signed when the great popular heart of the State swelled with magnanimous and generous rivalry in the efibrt to repair the past. The people of the whole State seemed to remem- ber with sorrowful pride the noble men who had died gallantly in the ranks of either army. Over their faults was thrown the man- tle of the sweet and soothing charities of the soldier's grave; while for their services was manifested and displayed unstinted admira- tion for the valor with which they had borne the dangers and pri- vations of war. The next Legislature wiped from the statute book every vindic- tive or discriminating law, and the Executive of the State, Gov- ernor Thomas E. Braralette, himself a soldier who had served with distinguished ability in the Federal army, led public sentiment in the effort to grant practical amnesty for the past. And now the children of Kentucky, once more united, chastened by the sorrows of the past, dropping tears of reverential respect for those that have fallen, turn hopefully to the duty of providing best for the living, with a firm faith in the ultimate triumph of free institutions and the cause of constitutional liberty. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKY OF KENTUCKY. 41 STATE OFFICEES. 1792.— Isaac Shelby, the first Governor, took the oath of office June 4, under the first Constitution; James Brown, Secretary of State. 1796. — James Garrard took the oath of office June 1; Hairy Toulmin, Secretary. The present Constitutioii was formed 1799. 1800. — James Garrard, being eligible, was aga^ elected Gov- ernor; Alexander S. Bullitt, Lieutenant-Go vernot;- Harry Toul- min, Secretary. 1804. — Christopher Greenup, Governor; John Caldwell, Lieu- tenant-Governor; John Kowan, Secretary. 1808. — Charles Scott, Governor; Gabriel Slaughter, Lieutea- ant-Governor; Jesse Bledsoe, Secretary. 1812. — Isaa,c Shelby, Governor; Richard Hickman, Lieutenant- Governor; Martin D. Hardin, Secretary. 1816. — George Madison, Governor; Gabriel Slaughter, Lieuten- ant Governor; Charles S. Todd, Secretary. Governor Madison died at Paris, Ky., October 14, and on the 2l8t of the same month, Gabriel Slaughter, Lieutenant-Governor, assumed the duties of Executive; John Pope, and after him, Oliver G. Waggoner, Sec- retary. 1820. — John Adair, Governor; William T. Barry, Lieutenant- Governor; Joseph C. Breckridge, and after him, Thomas B. Mon- roe, Secretary. 1824. — Joseph Desha, Governor ; Robert B. McAfee, Lieuten- ant Governor; William T. Barry, succeeded by James C. Pickett, Secretary. 1828. — Thomas Metcalfe, Governor; John Breathitt, Lieutenant- Governor; George Robertson, succeeded by Thomas T. Critten- den, Secretary. 1832. — John Breathitt, Governor; J. T. Morehead, Lieutenant- Governor; Lewis Saunders, Secretary. Governor Breathitt died Feb. 21, 1834, and on the 22d of the same month, James T. Morehead, Lieutenant-Governor, took the oath of office as Gov- ernor of the State; John J. Crittenden, William Owsley, end Aus- tin P. Cox were successively Secretary. 1836. — James Clark, Governor; CharlesA.Wickliffe, Lieutenant- Governor; James M. Bullitt, Secretary. Governor Clark died Sept. 27, 1839, and on the 5th of October Charles A. Wickliffe, Lieutenant-Governor, assumed the duties of Governor. 1840.— Robert P. Letcher, Governor; Manlius V. Thomson, Lieutenant-Governor; James Harlan, Secretary. Digitized by Microsoft® 42 HISTOKY OF KENTUCKY. 1844.— William Uwsloy, Governor; Arcliibakl Dixo!i, Lientea- ant-Governor; Benjamin Hardin, George B. Kinkead and William D. Reed, successively, Secretary. 1848- '.51.— John J. Crittenden, Governor; John L. Helm, Lieu- tenant-Governor; John W. Finncll, Secretary. Governor Critten- den resigned July 21, 1850, and John L. Helm became Governor until the iirst Tuesday in September, 1851. 1851-'55.— Lazarus W. Powell, Governor; John B. Thompson, Lieutenant-Governor; James P. AFetcalfe, Secretary. 1855-'59.— Charles S. Morehead, Governor; James G. Hardy, Lieutenant-Governor; Mason Brown, Secretary. 1859-'63.— Beriah Magoffin, Governor; Linn Boyd, Lieutenant- Governor (died Dec. 17, 1859); Thomas B. Monroe, Jr., Secretary. Governor Magoffin resigned Aug. 18, 1862, and James F. Robin- son, Speaker of the Senate, became Governor. 1863-'67.— Thomas E. Bramlettc, Governor; Richard T. Jacob, Lieutenant-Governor; B. L. Van Winkle (died May 23, 1864), suc- ceeded by John S. Van Winkle, Secretary. 1867-71.--John L. Helm, Governor; John W. Stevenson, Lieu- tenant-Governor; Samuel B. Churchill, Secretary. Governor Helm died Sept. 8, 1867, and John W. Stevenson took the oath as Gov- ernor. In August, 1868, he was elected Governor, serving until Feb. 11, 1871, when he resigned to take his seat in the United States Senate; the Speaker of tlie Senate, Preston II. Leslie, became Governor. 1871 -'75. — Preston II. Leslie, Governor; John G. Carlisle, Lieu" tenant-Governor; Andrew J. James, succeeded by George W. Crad- deck, Secretary. 187."i-'70. — James B. McCreary, Governor; John C. Underwood, Lieutenaiit-Govei-nor. 1879-'83. — Luke P. Blackburn, Governor; James E. Cantrill- Lieutenant-Governor; James Blackburn, Secretary. UNH'ED ST.VPES SENATOKS. Adiiir, .Joliu IsOo-rCi j I 1806-07 B:ury, Willlum T 1814-16 ,-„ ,, ', 18U'J-11 Bibb Gcoi-eM (1811-14 1 ^'^V, Hen,^ ^^.^^_^,^ Bk'dsoe, Jesse 1813-13 i fl81T-10 BrecUeiraluc, Jolni ISUI-U.5 ',,.,, , , ,, „ , 18*5-41 Brecken,i,iI;P, .John C |sr,l* ' ^ ""cndcM), .JoLn ,] ^ ,y^.j_^g Brown, Joliu 17lii-l>!i'n 1, 18">5 61 *Re-fl( cii ij Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. 43 UNITED STATES SENATORS. — Continued. Davis, Garret. ..'. 1861-73 Dixon, Archibald 1852-55 Edwards, John 1833-25 Quihrie, James 1865-68 Hardin, Martin D 1816-17 Johnson, Richard M 1819-29 Logan, William 1819-20 Machen, Willis B 1873-75 Marshall Humphrey 1795-1801 McCreery, Thorn as C |l873-79 Merriwether, David 1852-53 Metcalfe, Thomas 1848-49 Morehead, James T 1841-47 Pope, John 1807-13 Powell, Lazarus W 1859-65 Rowan, John 1825-31 Stevenson, John W 1871-77 ™^°t' i«i^»- jilK Thompson, John B 1853-59 Thruston, John Buckner 1805-09 Underwood, Josepli R 1847-53 Walker, George 1814-15 REPRESENTATIVES IN C0NQRES8. Adair, John 1831-33 Adams, George M 1867-75 ^'^'^-«' »'««" ilssgl? Allan, Chilton 1831-37 Anderson, Lucien 1863-65 Anderson, Richard C, Jr 1817-21 Anderson, Simeon H 1889-40 Anderson, William C 1859-61 Andrews, Landaff Watson 1839-43 Arthur, William E 1871-75 Barry, William T 1810-11 Beatty, Martin 1833-35 Beck, James B , 1867-75 Bedinger, George M 1803-07 Bell, Joshua F 1845-47 B^yd.Wnn \^^^^-f^ Boyle, John 1803-09 Brack, Daniel 1849-51 Breckenridge, James D 1821-23 Breckenridge, John C 1851-55 Brlstow, Francis M 1 859-61 ( 1859-61 Brown, John Young \ 1867-69 / 1873-75 Brown, William 18' 9-23 Buckner, Aylett 1847-49 Buckner, Richard A 1823-29 Bullock, Wingfield 1820-21 Barnett, Henry C 1855-01 Butler, William O 1839-43 Caldwell , George Alfred ... | Jg^glg i Calhoon, John 1835-39 Campbell, John 18;i7-4:i CampbHI, John P 18.">5-.")7 Casey, Samuel L 1862-03 Chambers, John -j j^^lsg Chilton, Thomas. . , \ \f{!r'il ( 1 o-io—o*} Chrisman, .James S 1853-55 Christie, Henry 1809-11 Clark, Beverly L 1847-40 ^^^^^^^--^-^ jK? Clay, Brutus J , 1863-65 ( 1811-14 Clay, Henry \ 1815-31 ( 1823-25 Clay, James B 1857-59 Coleman, Nicholas D 1829-31 Cox, Leander M 1853-57 Crittenden, John J 1861-63 Crossland, Edward 1871-75 Daniel, Henry 1827-33 Davis, Amos 1833-35 Davis, Garrett 1839-47 Davis, Thomas T 1797-1803 Desha, Joseph 1816-19 Duncan, Garnett 1847-49 Dunlap, George W 1861-63 Duval, William P 1813-15 Elliott, John M 1853-59 Ewing, Presley 1853-54 Fletcher, Thomas 1816-17 Fowler, John 1797-1807 ( 1835-37 French, Richard \ 1843-45 / 1847-49 Gaines, John P 1847-49 Gaither, Nathan 1829-33 GoUaday, Jacob S 1867-69 Graves, William J 1835-41 Green, Willis 1839-45 Greenup, Christopher 1792-97 Grey, Benjamin Edwards 1851-55 «"''«• H«-y Hsetle Grover, Asa P 1867-69 ( 1815-17 Hardin, Benjamin \ 1819-23 ( 1833-37 Harding, Aaron 1861-67 Harlan, James 1835-39 Hawes, Albert G 1831-37 Hawes, Richard 1837-41 Hawkins Joseph W 1814-15 Henry, Robert P 1833-26 Digitized by Microsoft® 44 HISTORY OF KENTCtJKY. EEPEESENTATivES IN coNOEESS. — Continued. Henry, John F 1826-27 Hill, Clement S 1853-55 Hise, Elijah 18(iG-67 Hopkins, Samuel 1813-15 Howard, Benjamin 1807-10 Jackson, James S lWOl-63 Jewett, Joshua H 1855-59 Johnson, Francis 1821-37 Johnson, James 1835-26 Johnson, James L 1849-51 Johnson, John T 1831-25 Johnson, Richard M - 1000737 Jones, Thomas L 1867-71 Kincaid 1839-33 Knott, J. Proctor 1867-71 Lecomple, Joseph 1835-33 Letcher, Robert P 1833-33 Lewis, Joseph H 1810-73 Love, James 1833-35 Lyon, Chitienden 1 827-35 Lyon, Mattlie w 1803-11 Mal!ory, Robert 1859-65 Marshall, Alexander K 1855-57 nT u 11 tr , ( 1849-53 Marshall, Humphrey -j ,„-, -g Marshall, Thomas A 1831-35 Marshall, Thomas F 1843-4) Martin, John P 1845-47 Mason, John C j jg^^Ig^ May, William L 1835-39 McDowell, Joseph H 1843 47 McHatton, Robert 1836-29 McHenry, John H 1843-47 McHenry, Henry D 1871-73 McKee, Samuel 1809-17 McKee, Samuel 1865-69 McLean, Alney -j Jy{^Io'| McLean, Finis Ewing .1849-51 Menefee, Richard M 1837-3!) Menzies, John W 180 1-65 Melcalf, Thomas 1819-28 Montgomery, Thomas - is'i'i'o'' Moore, Laban T 1859-61 Moore, Ttiomas P \ Iq^H- Moorehead, Charles S I>i47-51 Murray, John L ]8;!-<-39 Ormsby, Slephen 1811-17 Orr, Alexander D 1793-97 0 wsley, Bryan Y i M 1 -13 Peyton, Samuel O J is-ItIo' Pope, John lS:17-43 Durham, ^Alilton J 1S73-75 Millikcn, Charles W Is7:!-r5 Pope, Patrick H 1833-35 Preston, William 1853-57 Quarles, Tiinstall 1817-20 Randall, William H 1863-67 Read, William B 1871-75 Rice, John M 1869-73 Ritter, Burwell C 1865-67 Robertson, George 1817-21 Rowan, John 1807-09 Roussoau, Lovell H 1865-07 Ramsey, Edward 1837-39 S.uidlord, Thomas 1808-07 Shanklin,, George S 1865-67 Sharp, Solomon P 1813-17 Simms, William B 1859-61 Smith, Green Clay 1863-66 Sraiih, John Speed 1831-33 Southgate, William W 1837-39 Speed, Thomas 1817-19 Srigtr, James C 1841-43 Stanton, Richard H 1849-55 Stevenson, John W 1857-61 Q, T w ( 1843-45 Slone, James W j las-ino Sweenev, William N 18(i9-'71 Swope, Samuel F 1855-57 Tal bott, Albert Q 1855-61 Taul, Micah 1815-17 Thomasson, William P 1843-47 Thompson, John B | {g^^Igj Thompson, Philip .18^-25 Tibbatts, J-.hn W 1843-47 Thompkius, Christopher 1831-35 Trimble, David 1817-27 Triml)le, Lawrence S 1865-71 Triplctt, Philip 1839-41 Trumbi, Andrew 1845-47 Underwood, Joseph R 1835-43 Underwo.al, Warner L 1855-59 Wa Iswordi, William Ilrnry. . .1861-65 Walker, David 1817-30 Walion, Matthew lf-;03-07 Ward, A. llariy 1866-67 Ward, Wilham T 1851-58 Wlule, Addison 1851-53 White, 1) ivid 1S33-35 While, John 1835-45 Wickliii;', Charles A ■* iS'M'o I 1861-63 Williams, Sherrod 1835-41 Winchi-ster, Boyd 1869-73 Woodson. Samuel 11 1830-28 Yancy. Joel 1837-31 V.'anian, (ie(n-;.'e II 1863-65 Youi.ir, Bryan K 18-15-47 V'.iin-/, Wdliani F 1835-27 S'-,nditor.i, Dr. Elislia D t87;i-75 V'ung, -Jolm !) 1873-75 Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY 0¥ K.F.STXJCKY. 45 EMINKIST MEN FROM KENTUCKY. Pres'i'lents. — Abraham Lincoln, Zachary Taylor and Jefferson Davis. V!ce-Pn!iidents. — David 11. Atchison, Jesse D. Bright, John C. Breckenridge and Richard M. Johnson. Oovernors. — Lilbnrn W. Boggs, IlHnois; John Boyle (declined), Illinois Territory; Benj. Gratz Brown. Missouri; Wm. 0. Butler- (declined), Nebraska Territory; Richard K. Call, Florida; Thomas Carlin, Illinois; John Chambers, Iowa Terntory; Wm. Clarke, Missonri Territory; Thomas Corwin, Ohio; Robert Crittenden, Arkansas; Henry Dodge, Wisconsin; Daniel Dunklin, Missouri; Wm.P. Duvall, Florida Territory ; Ninian Edwards, Illinois; John Floyd, Virginia; John P. Gaines, Oregon; Willis A. Gorman, Minnesota Territory ; Benjamin Howard, Indianaj Territory and Missouri Territory; Claiborne F. Jackson, Missouri; John McLean Illinois; Stevens T. Mason, Jr., Michigan; David JMeri wether, New Mexico Territory ; John M. Palmer, Illinois; John Pope, Ar- kansas Territory; James Brown Ray, Indiana; Wm. A. Richardson Nebraska Territory; Green Clay Smith, Montana Territory; James Whitcomb, Indiana; Joseph M. White, Florida Territory; Robert C. Wickliffe, Louisiana; Richard Yates, Illinois. Lieutenant- Governors. — James Birney, Michigan; Ratliffe Boon, Indiana; Jesse D. Bright, Indiana; James Brown, Louisiana; Wm. L. D. Ewing, Illinois; Hubbard, Illinois; Step, Indiana; C. W. Bird, Sec. Northwest Territory; Jacob O. Phister, Sec. lowaTerritory. Ambassadoj's, JPoreign Ministers, etc. — Richard C. Anderson, Jr., Colombia and Congress of Panama; William T. Barry, Spain; John C. Breckenridge, Spain; James Brown, France; Allen A. Burtop, Colombia; Anthony Butler, Russia; Beverly L. Clarke, Guatemala and Honduras; CassiusM. Clay, Russia; Green Clay, Italy; Henry Clay, Ghent; James B. Clay, Portugal; Thomas H. Clay, Nicaragua and Honduras; L. H. Clayton, Honduras; Thomas Corwin, Mexico; Ninian Edwards (declined), Mexico; Joseph Eve, Texas; Peter W. Grayson, Texas to United States; A. Mars Hancock, Malaysia Edward A. Hannegan, Russia; J. O. Harrison, Spain; Charles J. Helm, Havana; Elijah Hise, Guatemala; Robert P. Letcher, Mexico; Robert B. M''"fee, New Granada; Alex. K. McClung, Bolivia; A. Dudley M , Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland; Humphrey Marshal], Central America, China; Thomas P. Moore, Colombia; Thomas H. Nelson, Chili and Mexico; James C. Pickett, Colombia Digitized by Microsoft® 46 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. and Bolivia; John T. Pickett, Yera Crnz; Win. Preston, Spain; George H. Proffit, Brazil; George Robertson (declined), Colombia and Peru; John Rowan, Jr., Two Sic; Richard H. Rousseau, Honduras; Geo. N. Sanders, Liverpool; James Semple, ]S'"ew Granada; James Shannon, Mexico and Central America; Charles S. Todd, Russia; Robert B. J. Troynian, Yera Cruz; Edward A. Turpin, Yenezuela; Robert AVickliffe, Jr., Sardinia; E. Ramsey- Wing, Ecuador; Robert Woolley, Madagascar; GeD. H. Teaman, Denmark. Officers United States Oovernment. — Henry Clay, Sacretary of State; George M. Bibb, Sscretary of Treasury; Thomas Corwin, Secretary of Treasury; James Guthrie, Secretary of Treasury; Isaac Shelby (declined), Secretary of War; Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War; Josejih Holt, Secretary of War; Wm. T. Barry, Postmaster- General; Montgomery Blair, Postmaster-Goneral; Orville H- Browning, Secretary of Interior; Amos Kendall, Postmaster- General; John McLean, Postmaster-General; Charles A.Wicldiffe, Postmaster-General ; Wtn. J. Brown, Assistant Postmaster-General; Robert Johnson, Assistant Postmaster-General; John Breckenridge, John J. Crittenden, Felix Grundy, James Speed, Henry Stanberg and Geo. M.Bibb, Attorneys-General; Benj.H. Bristow, Solicitor- General; Thomas II. Blake, John McLean, John Whitcorab, Com- missioners General Land-Office; Murray McConnell, Fifth Auditor United States Treasury; John C. Breckenridge, Secretary of War, Confederate States. United States Judges and other High Courts. — Lorin Andrews, Sandwich Islands'; Robert B. Warden, Charles W. Bird, Ohio; John Bojde, Robert Trimble, Ohio; JohnCati'on; Tennessee; John Cobnrn (declined), Michigan Territory; Thomas T. Davis, Indiana; Joseph E. Davis, E. Turner, Mississippi; Henry Humphreys, Texas; Josiah S. Johnson, Louisiana; B. Johnson, Thomas J. Lacy, Arkansas; John McLean, United States Judge; John McKinley, SanuielF. Miller, United States Judges; Benj. B. Meeker, Minnesota Territory; Nathaniel Po]ie, John M. Robinson, Anthony Thornton, Illinois; John C. Richardson, Missouri; John B.Thornton, District of Columbia; Thomas Todd, United States Judge; Wm. T. Trimble, Oregon; Fielding L. Turner, Louisiana; Samuel R. Overton, Florida; Wm, Henry Wadsworth, John Rowan, Mexico. Presiding Officers of Congress. — D.ivid B. Atchison, Senate; Linn B lyd, House Representatives; John C. Breckenridge, Jesse D. Bright, John Brown, Richard M, Johnson, John Pope, Sen;ite; Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. 47 Henrj Clay, John White, House of Eepresentatives; Thomas Douofhertj, James C. Allen, Clerk House Eepresentatives. United States Senators. — David B. Atchison, Francis P. Blair, B. Gratz Brown, Missouri ; Jesse D. Bright, Henry S. Lane, Edward A. Hannegan, Indiana; James Brown, Solomon U. Downs, J. S. Johnson, Allan B. Magruder, Louisiana; Louis F.Linn, Missouri; Thomas Corwin, Ohio; Henry Dodge,WiBconsin;N'inian Edwards, John McLean, John M. Robinson, James Semple, Eichard Yates, Illinois; James Whitcomb, Indiana; Jefferson Davis, Thomas B. Read, Mississippi; John Norvell, Michigan; H. P. Hann California; Felix Grundy, Tennessee; John McKinley, Alabama; Robert W. Johnson, Arkansas. Besides the foregoing, there are seventy-eight that have been Members of Congress from other States, and twenty-one presidents of colleges not in Kentucky. KENTUCKY SCHOOL STATISTICS. From the lately issued report of the superintendent of public instruction, we glean the following statistics of the common schools of Kentucky; Number of districts, 1880 , 6,177 Number of children enrolled 478,554 Average number atteading school 158,218 Number of teachers — Males 4,418 Numbers of teachers— Females 2,358—6,776 Average wages in country, per month $21.71 Average wages in cities, per month, males 90.07 Average wages in cities, per month, females 43.48 School houses — log 3,369 School houses — frame, in cities 4 School houses — brick, in cities 44 School houses — brick, in country 101—8,518 "While there are 478,554 children enrolled, the average number in attendance is only 158,218, or less than one third. There are 6,177 districts and 3,518 school-houses, so that about one third of the districts in the State are without school-houses. The wages of teachers in the country districts $21.71 a month. ILLITERACY IN KENTUCKY. According to Census Bulletin No. 313 there are in Kentucky 258,180 persons ten years of age and upward unable to read, and 348,362 unable to write. Digitized by Microsoft® 48 HISTORY OF KENTUCKY. Native whites- unable to write 308,796 Foreign born imable to write 5,701 Colored unable to write 133,895 The native white population is 614,311; the per cent, unable to write, 22.8. The foreign white population, 58,964; the percent. unable to write, 9.7. The colored population, 190,223; the per cent, unable to write, 70.4. POPULATION. In 1860 the population of Kentucky was 1,155,684. In 1870 it was 1,432,695; number of farms, 110,000; number of productive establishments, 5,000. CENSUS OF 1880. Counties. Pop. Counties. For. Counties. Pop Adair 18,078 Allen 12,089 Anderson 9,361 Ballard ,... 14,878 Barren ;.... 33,321 Batb 11,983 Bell 6,055 Boone 11,995 Bourbon 15,958 Boyd 12,162 Boyle 11,930 Bracken 13,509 Breathitt 7,742 Breckenridge 17,486 Bullitt 8,521 Butler 12,181 Caldwell 11,283 Calloway 13,295 Campbell 37,440 Carroll 8,953 Carter 12,345 Casey 10,983 Christian 31,681 Clark 13,113 Chiv 10,233 Clinton 7,213 Crittenden 11,688 Cumberland 8,891 Daviess 37,734 Edmonson 7,322 Elliott 6,507 Estill 9.860 Fayette 23,023 Fleming 15,22] Floyd 10,176 Franklin 18,698 Fulion 7,979 Gallatin 4,832 Garrard 11,703 Grant ]-'i,083 Graves 24,137 Grayson 15,784 Green 11,871 Greenup 13,371 Hancock 8,563 Hardin 22,564 Harlan 5,278 Harrison 16,502 Hart 17,133 Henderson 24,516 Henry 14,493 Hickman 10,662 Hopkins 19,133 Jackson 6,678 Jefferson 145,902 Jessamine 10,864 Johnson 9,155 Kenton 43,983 Knox 10,587 Larue 9,800 Laurel 9,131 Lawrence 13,263 Lace 4,254 Leslie 3,740 Letcher 6,601 Lewis 13,154 Lincoln 15,079 Livingston 9,165 Logan 24,358 Lyon 6,760 McCiacken 16,260 McLean 9.2!):! Ma'lisou 23,051 Magoffin 0,943 Marion 14,691 Marshall 9,6 IV Martin :-..(i57 Ma,on 20,469 Meade 10;!33 ?Ieiiitef 5,410 Mercer 14,141 Metcalf. 9,433 Monroe 10,742 Montgomery 10,567 Morgan 8,455 Muhlenburg 15,698 Nelson 16,609 Nicholas 11,869 Ohio 19,669 Oldham 7,685 Owen 17,401 Owsley 4,942 Pendleton 16,702 Perry 5,607 Pike 15,003 Powell 3,639 Pulaski 21,318 Robertson 5,814 Rockcastle 9,670 Rowan 4,419 Russell 7,591 Scott 14,965 Shelby 16,818 Simpson 16,641 Spencer 7,040 Taylor 9,260 Todd 15,998 Tritrg 14,489 Trimble 7,171 Union 17,803 Warren .37,528 Washington 14,419 Wayne 13,512 Webster 14,246 Whitley 12,000 Woolfe 3,800 Woodford 4,960 Tola! . .1,648,509 Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY, CHAPTER I. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first permanent settlement in what is now Daviess County, was probably made in 1797 or 1798, by the celebrated William Smither, more popularly known as "Bill Smothers;" this'settlement was made on the site of the present city of Owensboro. For an extended account of this remarkable man, see Chapter II. The centers of the principal settlements made in this part of the State, were at Hartford, on Rough Creek, and Vienna (now Calhoon), at the falls of Green River. Each place was rudely fortified against the attacks of the Indians, and crowded with men, women and children who had gathered there for safety. Their chief source of subsist- ence was wild game. This soon became scarce, and as soon as danger from Indian depredations was over the families began to set- tle outside the forts, though at first, within a short distance of the center of the settlement. The families at Hartford subsequently located on the banks of Rough Creek. The following recollections ot the early settlers of the county are from the pen of Judge George AV". Triplet t: All of the now county of Daviess once belonged to, and was a por- tion of, Ohio County, except a small tract in the northwest some four miles wide, on the Ohio River, and extending south a few miles to Green River, which was taken off of Henderson and added to Daviess some twenty years ago. Also the greater portion of McLean lying on the north side of Green River and taken from Daviess to form McLean, was originally part of Ohio County. All of the earlier settlements of old Daviess were made whilst the Ter- ritory was part of Ohio, a large portion of the first settlements being in the region around Vienna, now Calhoon. The first settle- ment of the present Daviess County was made by Bill Smothers, Felty Husk and James Smothers, followed by Rodger Potts in 4 (49) Digitized by Microsoft® OU IIISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. IJ5O2. liy John and David Leman in 180±; Matthew Rodgers, William Galloway a;id some others in 1805. Mrs. Ann Moreland, now residing in Owensboro, an excellant old lady, is a daughter of Rodtcer Potts. Mrs. Moreland has resided in the present limits of Owensboro for upward of seventy years. Wm. Galloway in a year or two settled about four miles west of Owensboro, in what was then and is still called the Buzzard Roost Hills. He soon had neighbors, Bill Wornall, James Romme, the Asterhorrys and a tew others. They were all squatters, settling where they chose, on and among the rich hills. The owners of the lands resided in Virginia. The whole coun- try, hills and river bottoms, was almost a dense cane-break, and lilled with bear, deer, wolves and other wild animals, also turkeys in great abundance. The hollow trees seemed to be infested witli raccoons and honey bees; but little labor was necessary. To clear a patch of ground on which to raise bread and potatoes, kill bear, deer, etc., for meat, cut down coon and bee trees, dress deer skins for clothing and moccasins, constituted the general occupation of the earlier settlers. This mode of life was continued by many up to 1833, when the writer was first through this neighborhood, when he was shown a poplar tree, full eight feet across the stump, which had been cut down on the 25th of December, 1830, as a Christmas frolic by the neighbors. The result was the catching of nineteen raccoons and fourteen gallons of strained honey, after thirty persons had satis- fied themselves- by eating all the honey they desired. The weather being cold the honey had to be warmed in iron pots before strain- ing. This tale looks big, but I was assured by men who were of the party that it was true, and the parties were reliable, truthful men. These old people are all gone, having left the country or died, and but few of their descendants remain. They were backwoods people and hunters. Yet moat of them were men of noble traits of character. Brave and fearless, hospitable in the full sense of the word, they took no advantage of each other, or of strangers. They would go ten to twenty miles to help a new comer to raise liis cabin. Tke rifle was always taken along, and they would kill and take in game for provisions at the raising and for a supply for the new comer until he could get about and help himself. They would stay until all was ready for the new comer to move in. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIKSS COUNTY. 51 There were no locks to ineat-lionaes or corn-cribs in those days One end of a deer-skin cord was fastened to a rude latch on the inside of their cabin doors, and the other end of th cord was al- ways hanging outside. There was no pilfering, backbiting or slan- dering. If a difficulty took place, there was no shooting or cutting, and if the matter could not be settled without a fight, their rifles and butcher-knives were laid aside and a fair fist and skull affair settled the fuss. JS^o biting or gouging or foul holds were allowed. What has been said of these people applies in a great measure to the earlier settlers generally. The early settlers, however, in other portions of the country were more thrifty, paying more at- tention to clearing farms, raising horses, cattle and hogs. The pioneers in the eastern portion of the county were Ben Duncan, on Pup Creek in 1801, a prominent man in his day, father of Major Ben Duncan, lately deceased, and father-in-law of Asa Smeathers, and James Griffin, two of our oldest and best citizens. Ben Dun- can at an early day represented Ohio and other counties in the House of Representatives and Senate of Kentucky. 0. Head, in Pup Creek in 1803, was an early pioneer, as -vras also the Bells, Adamses and others on or near Pup Creek in 1803 or 1804. Jim Gentry settled all along from Rough Creek, in Ohio County, to the mouth of Blackford, on the Ohio River. Gentry was the great hog-raiser of his day; he would examine the country in the spring-time for long distances and climb the trees, ascertain where the best mast crop would be, and in due time take posses- sion and move in his hogs. When Gentry's mast privileges began to be interfered with he crossed over the Ohio River into Indiana, where few settlements had been made, and where he had ample range. Gentry settled and gave name to what is now the thrifty village of Gentryville, Ind. General John Daveiss and his brother, Jo Daveiss, were also early settlers and prominent men. A few years later Thomas Clay, a Virginian by birth, and a Rev- olutionary soldier, settled seven miles above Owensboro on the present Hawesville road. Thomas Clay and his brother Green Clay, first settled in Madison County, Ky., from which they were both members of the convention which'established the second Con- stitution of Kentucky, and finished their labors at Frankfort, Ky., on the 7th day of August, 1799. Thomas Clay and Green Clay were both men of wealth.. Thomas purchased several thousand acres of land of the best quality, and settled in Ohio County, now Daviess, Digitized by Microsoft® 52 HISTORY OF DAVIESti CoL'N'lY. and was grandfather of U. S. Senator T. C. McOreery. Green Clay was fatlier of If on. Cassius M. Clay. Richard Ilawes, Eobert McCreery, Elijah McCreery, Enoch Kendall, Amos Riley, the Robertses and others were early settlers in what is called the Beech AVoods, and in the neighborhood of the present village of Yelvington. They were all good citizens, and men of wealth, or by industry became wealthy. Robert McCreery was the father of Plon. T. C. McCreery. Richard Ilawes raised eight sons to be grown, four of whom survive. Governor Richard Ilawes resides inParis,Ky.; Walker Hawes lives in Texas; Edwin Ilawes is now a resident of Owensboro, and W. F. Hawes, of St. Louis, Mo. The Ilawes family was a wealthy one, the sons all prominent men, and would have been prominent men in any part of Kentucky. Richard and Albert were each some six years in the United States Congress. The " Beech Woods" was for many years known far and wide for its unpretending, yet magnificent, hospitality. The early settlers in the present county of Daviess, south of Panther Creek, were Ben Field, Joshua Griffith, Reuben Field and others. Colonel William Newton and Warner Crow were early settlers, but at a later date than Field and Griffith. Ben Field was born in Culpeper County, Ya., was a Captain in the Revolutionary army, was with General George Rogers Clark in the expedition against the British that captured Kaskaskia, 111., and Vincennes, led., then an Indian country under the control of the British. From 1Y81 to 1790 Ben Field was a surveyor in the wild portions of Kentucky, making frequent trips to his home in Virginia, in the winter. He finally settled, about 1803 or 1804, in Ohio County, now Daviess, on a tract of land lying ten miles south of Owensboro, and which he had surveyed about twenty-three years before. He died about 1841, aged nearly ninety. He was entitled to a pension of about $30,000, only half of which he ever realized Field was witty, genial and hospitable, and raised a large and respectable family. All of his children are dead except Captain William Field, and all are higlily respected citizens of Ohio County. His grandson, Larkin Field, is a resident of Owensboro. Many of his grandchildren and great-grandcliildron reside in Davies"s County. Joshua Griffith came from Maryland and first settled at Hart- ford, and afterward about ten miles south of Owensboro. then Ohio County. Joshua Griffith was the father of ReniUb Griffith and Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OK DAVIESS COUNTY. 53 Williain K. Griffith, botli of wlioui were prominent men. His daughters married William Hanford, Moses Cummins, Warner Crow and Jolm McFarland. All of Josiftia Griffith's children are dead, but many of his descendants still live ip Daviess. Joshua Griffith was a peculiar man, very mucli like a Quaker in his dress and appearance. Eemarkably fond of the company of those he liked, and full of fun. He was a great man for eggs, and always had plenty of them on hand. We could always tell you at meal- time, who he liked or thought most of He would put the question to each one, "Do 3-ou like eggs?" "How do you vant them cooked?" Each guest's eggs would be cooked as ordered, and placed on the table, and each guest directed to his proper place. If he did not fancy the guest, only the number named by him or her was placed. If he thought well of the next an additional egg or two was served, but if he fancied or was specially fond of any particular one, then double the number was placed for that person. He was fond of children and amused himself much at their praTi**, and sometimes played pranks on the children an* larger persons. He had his coffin made twenty years before he di^ and kept it in a room up stairs, immediately above the room occirpied by him, and generally under a bed immediately above. • He always during fa.l, winter and spring kept good apples in the coffin for convenience, and also kept some of his egg gourds under tlie same bed, and whenever youngsters or children came, he would ask if they wanted apples or eggs. Of course all said "yes." He would say, " You are young, and must wait on yourselves; just go up stairs and look under the bed and push the lid off that box, and get as many apples as you want, and bring me some; and you, who want eggs, look in the big gourd behind the box and get some." The result may well be im- agined, for as soon as the bedclothes were raised, the light dimly revealed the coffin, and then there was such a "getting down stairs," without many apples or eggs, and after his laugh was over,he would then call in his faithful body servant, "Red," and have as many apples and eggs brought down as the youngsters and others could devour. In 1840 he exhibited to the writer a tea-kettle in good, serviceable condition, which he had purchased in Baltimore the day before his marriage, more than sixty years previously, and liad continuously used the kettle the whole time. Colonel William Newton and Warner Crow settled in the same neighborhood, whilst yet Ohio County. Newton was from Oul- peper County, Va., and married a daughter of Ben Field. War- Digitized by Microsoft® 54 HISTORY (IF 1)AVITCSSC;0UNTY. nei- Crow was born in Maryland and raised at HartiVird. They were both men of note; each was Slierifi of Daviui-s. and each represented the county in tlie LegishUnre of Kentucky. Three brothers McFarland settled in what is now McLean County, a short distance from Field and Griffith, about 1805. The McFarfends were from North Carolina, near the Yadkin River, and from Daniel Boone's old country. Th^ey were of large stature and riien of greait power, in good circumstances and made good citizeiw. Maipy of their descendants have filled prominent positions In the county of Daviess, and their descendants are more numer- ous in Daviess than the descendants of any other half dozen men who ever settled in the county. The early settlers of the southwest portion of the present Daviess County, were Dav ! Glenn, with |iis boys, William, Duke, and David, from North Carolina,.a]l good and true men. Many of their descendants still Ijve in the section of country settled by David, Sr. JohpAOftlliTifay, or '* Jhree Plait," as he was called, on account of wearing hi?^hai(|4u!A? and hanging plaited dow.n his back, also settled nearGleJuj.^'Vte was- an upright, honorable man, and made little chan.'c, dft'iiiiilj; j»is life in his original primitive, or backwoods, habits. George Calhoon a lit'.le la. tr settled about seven miles southwest of Owensboro on the- stme farm owned and occupied by his son. Rev. Samuel Calhoon. He was at one time Assistant Circuit Judge of the district. He raised a remarkable family of boys, all of whom became men of note, and with the most limited means for an education — only what the wilderness aiforded. John Calhoon was the first Deputy in the Daviess County clerk's ofiice. lie stud- ied law at odd times, commenced practice at Hartford, was a Mem- ber of the Legislature, and for six years was a Member of Congress, again a Member of the Legislature, and then Circuit Judge. He afterward settled at old Vienna, on (iieen River, and when McLean County was established, tlic v,-ritcr had the honor of nam- ing tlie county seat Calhoon, in honor of Judge Calhoon. Three of the other brothers, George, IJenrv and Mitchell, became lawyers, one of whom was a ,1 ndge in Misi^istippi ; yainucl became a preaclier of the Cjiiinbcrlaiid Presljytfriun diurcli. a!id has (uintiniied to preach f.r more thfiri fiay v.'hvs lie is qiiite Infi.-m in body, hut hie nii)j(l is ^fi'I .-tP.ng. Jlaliih (Jalhooii was a man of fine mind, afluL-iit talker, and of vubt infoi'iiiation. lie dit'd .-^.»me l.wontv yeare iuro at wliat is known a^ Caihoon's Kerry, o:; Cire>n\ River. Digitized by Microsoft® )llS'ruK\ OF ])A\ IKS^ COL .NTY. 05 Willis Pickett, a house carpenter of Owensboro, went to Texas in IbM, joined a company, and participated in the coiitei-t with Mexico for the independence of Texas. Robert and Charles Tarleton were early settlers in llie vicinity of Owensboro. Of such names and men were the original settlers of Daviess County, and from such men are many of our people descended. In 1834: the voters of Daviess County, then including half of Mc- Lean, only numbered 800. Now, in 1875, with McLean voting sep- arate, Daviess County has 4,800 white voters, and bOO colored voters. There has been vast progress and improvement in population and wealth, social position, polish, and education. But with all our progress and improvemetit, increase of wealth and population can we congratulate ourselves that gar manhood and integr^y is an improvement on the manhood and integrity of the old settlers? Among the early settlers that havfi'.been meiftioned, the following deserve a more extended. notice: Hon. John H. McFarland, of (Jwensba^o^lis the oldest living resident of Daviess County, hariMii,^pent taore than seventy-rive years within the limits of the fcUafii''. ' ffe'was bo'rn in Person County, N. C, April 26, 1798. ills grandparents onjiis father's side emigrated from Ireland in 1690,' His maternal grandparents. Chambers by name, canie from Scotland at a very early day. His parents were Walter and Lucy (Chambers) McFarland, and came to Daviess (then Ohio) County in 180.*>. Mr. McFarland remem- bers well the journey from North Carolina, and wliile on a visit to that State in 1875, was able to point out the place where his fatiier lived, and where he himself was born. The McFarlands started from North Carolina in September, and halted within a mile of where Lewis Station now stands, on the third of November. Settlements liad been made in that vicinity by one or two persons. Captain Ben Field and Adam Shoemaker, and the same year Joshua Griffith put up a house, which he occupied with his family the next sea- son. There were no otlier persons living except at a distance of several miles, and tlie whole number of families living within the present limits of Daviess County was less than a dozen. Robert McFarland bought 200 acres of land south of Owensboro, and made the first whisky and brandy ever made in this county. He died in ISll, aged forty-six years. John was fourteen years old at the time of his father's death. The first school he attende-l was Digitized by Microsoft® 56 HISTORY OF DAV^IESS COUNTY. kept by an Irisliman named Andrew Kelly, two miles southwest of Lewis Station, and was probably the first taught in Daviess County. Oct. 26, 1816, when under nineteen years of age, he mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Joshua Griffith, of Baltimore, Md., and immediately went to farming, which occupation he has fol- lowed the greater part of his life. He was the most extensive farmer and tobacco- raiser in the county, often realizing $5,000 a year from the crop. Each year he planted 130 acres. After a married life of seventeen years, Mrs. McFarland died, leaving eleven children. In 183i Mr. McFarland married Harriet Lea- man, the first child born in the city of Owensboro. By this mar- riage there have been seven children. In 1857 he became a resident of Owensboro. He was a serious sufferer by the events of the war, and since then has given up active business to a great extent. During the war he was cultivating 130 acres of tobacco, which he lost entirely, besides losing $40,000 in slaves. On one occasion he saw a company of guerrillas ap- proaching the house. He had at this time $6,000 or $7,000 in the house. As not a moment could be lost, he handed the money to a negro boy, who roHted it np and hid it in a pile of rub- bish, and it thus escaped the eyes of the guerrillas; it was soon restored to its owner. In his politics -Mr. McFarland was an old Henrj' Clay Whig, and an active worker in that party. In 1848 he was elected to the Legislature on the'Whig ticket. He served one term, and made an honest record, as an efficient member, and a conscientious servant of the people. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. McFarland maintained the union of the States and tlie supremacy of the Gov- ernment according to the Constitution and laws; since the war he has acted with the Democratic party. Mr. McFarland has spent a life in honor and usefulness. He is well worthy to stand as an ex- ample of the men who reclaimed Kentucky from the wilderness, and prepared it for the abode of subsequent generations. Among the early settlers of north McLean County (then in Daviess) was Anthony '.Thompson, a strict constructionist of law, especially of Sabbath laws. He held tliat no one should labor on Sunday. In ills vicinity one Saturday afternoon there arrived one Christopher Dickin, who had fallen heir to a survey of 400 acres, covering tlie site where Vienna stood, besides another tract of 1,000 acres in the vicinity. Mr. D. was moving from Vir- ginia to take possession of the property, with his family and Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOE'X OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 57 several negroes. On Sunday morning they finished their journey, and Thompson had Dickin arrested for violating Sunday law; and this prosecution became only the first of a long series of lawsuits and of an unending enmity between the men. On another occasion Mr. D. was building a house, and Saturday night caught him with the structure uncovered. The next day he commenced to work on the building, and Thompson com- menced lawing him again. These prosecutions, of course, led to a permanent enmity between the two men and their families. Philip and Emanuel Taylor were early settlers in the southern part of this county. EARLY PREACHERS. John Daveiss, a brother of Colonel Jo Daveiss, was perhaps, the first resident minister in this county, being here in 1815-'17. He was an Old-School Baptist, a sensible but an old-fashioned, plainly dressed, unassuming man. He was a sort of lawyer, farmer, politician and preacher. The lawyer, politician and preacher elements did not seem to harmonize very well, so he quit the law, but, being of a warm Irish temperament, he could not entirely ig- nore politics, so liis political aspirations somewhat interfered with liis usefulness as a minister of the gospel. He was a man of ability, with most wonderful conversational powers, witt3% genial and sociable in a high degree. George Render, a resident of what is now Ohio County, was another minister of tlie same persuasion, who, about the same time, made his monthly visits to points within the present limits of Daviess County, devoting Saturday and Sunday to public services. He wa# rough in his ajipearance, but a kind-hearted jnan. Thomas Downs and William Downs, brothers, were among the early Old-School Ea])tist preachers, both entirely self-made men, and reared in the wilderness. Their father was killed by the Indi- ans near the old st(jcka(le fort at Vienna, now Calhoon, on Green River. Thomas, who resided soutli of Panther Creek; 1815-'35 and afterward, was a man of fair capacity, great piety, and indom- itable energy in his holy mission. He devoted his life to his Mas- ter's cause, and was always pooi-, and for many years traveled on foot from ten to forty miles to meet his appointments and attend the sessions of the Association. Every person loved and respected Thomas Downs. William Downs differed mucli from his brother. William, a resident of what is now Ohio County, was a man of Digitized by Microsoft® 68 IIISKIKY OF DAVIEISK COUNTY. splendid intellect, fond of religious controversy, i^eing what was known as a hard-shell Baptist, he warred with the United Baptists as energetically as with Methodists, Presbyterians or Catholics. At one time John Cflhoon and others secured a challenge from Downs to a Catholic priest, and its acceptance for a religious debate. At the time and place named Downs was on hand, having traveled on foot about seventy miles. Great preparations had been made, and fully 2,000 people were around the rude stand erected in the dense birch grove. At the hour. Downs mounted the stand, 'took a seat, and, after waiting nearly an hour, raised himself up to his full height, and, after minutely surveying the immense crowd for some ten minutes (and no jjriest being in sight), broke forth in tones which echoed far and wide through the forest, "Where, oh, where is that uncircumcised Philistine who assumes the power of the living God ? " The excitemen was intense. The air was rent by shouts of the multitude. Downs ijuietl}' took a text, preached an able sermon, never alluding tf) Catholics. Downs did not walk home. He returned home superbly dressed, and for some time seemed to bo Hush with silver dollars, halves and quarters. Uncle Billy, with all his ability, seems not to have been heavily burdened with pietj^, and was bitterly opposed to total abstinence organizations. John Pinkston was . an old-fashioned pioneer Methodist local preacher, earnest, zealous and efficient, and the early builder up of the Methodist'church in this county, rio lived, ISlS-'-Si and after. two or three miles from Owensboro. on the Litchtield road. Jasper Bristow was an ohl-tashioned Baptist preacher, on the hard-shell plan, a clever, good, and industrious citizen, residing here 1829-'34. Some of his children and many grandchildren reside in the countv. Reuben Cottrell, from near iiichmond, Va., of tlie United Bap- tists, was here in 1S33 and afterward. He was a jjreaeher of note, and bitterly opposed to Freemasonry. lie was opposed to mem- bers of the church belonging to any secret organization. Some of his children and many grandchildren reside in Daviess County. Samuel Calhoon lived about three miles out on tlie Henderson, until the time of his death. He was a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church; died within the last three years, nearly ninety years of age. Jo Miller was of German origin. He had removed from Shelby County. Ky., and settled on North Panther Creek. Uiude Jo Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 59 was a low, heavy, powerful man as to muscular strength. When he preached he put forth his whole physical and intellectual strength, and was more of an exhorter than preacher. He was fond of camp-meetings, where he was always in his element. He could do more crying, and have more crying done, and more tears shed, than any man of his day. He was an industrious and hard- working man. Uncle Jo seemed to have a passion for saw-mill8 and improvements of that character. He spent almost a fortune on saw-mills and mill-dams on both North and South Panther Creeks, but his creeks were without rocky bottoms or banks, were low, sluggish streams, and he had great difficulty in making his efforts remunerative. Jo Miller was a worthy and good man. Others and more prominent ministers have followed the old pioneer preachers, men of more learning, greater ability, and polished manners, but not more faithful, pious, or energetic than the old preachers who lifted up their voices in the vilderness to proclaim tlie tidings of salvation. OTHER EARLY OFFIOIALt,. From the records in the county clerk's office we obtain the fol- lowing names of ministers who solemnized matrimony in early day, in addition to those already mentioned : Daniel T. Pinkston, 1815-'20; Job Hobbs, 1816-17; John Phipps, 1818 (probably lived in Hartford); Othello Williams, 1819-'24; Jesse Greene, Meth- odist Episcopal, 1819; William Allen, Methodist Episcopal, 1820; Reuben Owen, 1820; David Lowry, 1820-'21; Joseph Pearson, 1820-'23; W. Kincheloe, Methodist Episcopal, 1820; John Doris, Baptist, 1821-35; William P>arnett, 1822 (lived in what is now Ohio County); George Locke, Methodist Episcopal, 1824; William C. Long, Cumberland Presbyterian, 1829; Ancil Hall, 1830-'35; Stephen F. Ogden, Methodist Episcopal, 1830-'31; James Moore, same church, 1832-'33; William Morman, Baptist, 1829-'34; C.L. Cliffton, Methodist Episcopal; Eichard D. Neale, same, 1833; David J. Kelly, 1834; Elisha J. Durbin, 1829 and onward; John C. Wathen, Catholic priest, 1834-'35; F. Tanner, Baptist (resid- ing between Panther Creek and Green River), 1834-35. The names of parties not indicated as ministers of the gospel, who solemnized matrimony in this county previous to 1835, we find to be these: Benjamin Peeplus, 1819; Benjamin Kelly, 1820; J. H. L. Moorman, 1820; Benjamin Talbot, 1820; Michael D. Neal, A. M., 1824; William Hart, 1830; T. W. Chandler, 1834. Digitized by Microsoft® 60 HISTORY OF UAVIESS COUNTY. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Mr. Meeks, the father of James and Charles Meeks, was killed across the river in Indiana in ]811, by an Indian named Sutty- house. The sons here mentioned then pursued the murderer until they found him, and then killed him. The incoming war of 1812 directly aiterward frightened all the Indians of this region to other parts of the country, since which time no depredations have been committed by them in this part of Kentucky. William Calhoon, the great-grandfather of George Calhoori, came to this country in a very early day. On one occasion, while surveying with another man, they were lost for forty days and nights, having nothing to eat except snakes and toads! They be- came s) poor and weak that they had to lie down beside a sap- ling at night, so that they could raise themselves in the morning from the ground with the aid of their hands, as it were by climbing! Mr. Calhoon's grandfather, with five pounds (sterling) of money and an old wreck of a gun, purchased 1,400 acres of land, which now is said to be worth $50 an acre. The earthquake of 1811 was perceived by all the residents in this region. Articles suspended from the wall or ceiling were swung about Ijke a bell on an animal's neck. The superstitious element of human nature was excited, and many are the amusing experiences witnessed on that occasion. For example, one An- thony Thompson, a pious Methodist, thinking that the world was coming to an end, met with his neighbors and prayed and sang and shouted. Byrd Wall, father of Banister, was appealed to by one of these excited believers, and he replied : "Oh, you needn't give yourselves any uneasiness. This earth is hung on axles like a horse-mill shaft, and I will insure its running safely for a thousand years yet to come. " 1811. — This was a remarkable year in Kentucky, — comet, earth- quake, signs of war with Great Britain, first steamboat down the Ohio Eiver, and the discovery of the Mammoth Cave! All these at a time when the people were superstitious, — no wonder they were frightened. It is claimed by one old resident, however, that the fi''8t steamboat on the Ohio River did not appear until 1814. The fliN; shock of the earthquake was perceived at 2:15 p. m., Dec. 16, 1«U. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 61 A RETEOSPECT. And now, how natural to turn our eyes and thoughts back to tlie log-cabin days of less than fifty years ago, and contrast it with the elegant mansion of modern times. Before us stands the old log cabin. Let us enter. Instinctively the head is uncovered in token of reverence to this relic of ancestral beginnings and early struggles. To the left is the deep, wide fire-place, in whose com- modious space a group of children may sit by the fire, and up through the chimney may count the stars, while ghastly stories of witches and giants, and still more thrilling stories of Indians and wild beasts, are whisperingly told and shudderingly heard. On the great crane hang the old tea-kettle and the great iron pot. The huge shovel and tongs stand sentinel in either corner, while the great andirons patiently wait for the huge backlog. Over the fire-place hangs the trusty rifle. On the right side of the fire-place stands the spinning wheel, while in the fartlier end of the room the loom looms up with a dignity peculiarly its own. Strings of drying apples and poles of drying pumpkin are overhead. Oppo- site the door by which j^on enter stands a huge deal table; by its side the dresser, whose " pewter plates " and " shining delf " catch and reflect " the fire-place flame as shields of armies do the sun- shine." From the corner of its shelves coyly peep out the relics of former china. In a curtained corner and hid from casual sight we find the mother's bed, and under it the trundle-bed, while near them a ladder indicates the loft where the older children sleep. To the left of the fire-place and in the corner opposite the spinning- wheel is the mother's work-stand. Upon it lies the Holy Bible, evidently much used, its family record telling of parents and friends a long way off, and telling, too, of children Scattered like roses in bloom, Some at the bridal and some at the tomb. Her spectacles, as if but just used, are inserted between the leaves of her Bible, and tell of her purpose to return to its comforts when cares permit and duty is done. A stool, a bench, well notched and whittled and carved, and a few chairs complete the furniture of the room, and all stand on a coarse but well-scoured floor. Let us for a moment watch the city visitors to this humble ■•cabin.. ■ The city bride, innocent but thoughtless, and ignorant of labor and care, asks her city- bred husband: "Pray, what savages set this up?" Honestly confessing his ignorance, he replies: " I do not know." Digitized by Microsoft® 62 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. But see the pair on whom age sits " frosty but kindly." First, as they enter, they give a rapid glance around the cabin home, and then a mutual glance from eye to eye. Why do tears start and fill their eyes? Why do lips quiver? There are many who know why; but who, that has not learned in the school of experience the full meaning of all these symbols of trials and privations, of loneliness and danger, can comprehend the story they tell to the pioneer? Within this chinked and mud-daubed cabin we read the first pages of our history; and as we retire through its low doorway, and note the heavy battened door, its wooden hinges, and its wel- coming latch-string, is it strange that the scene without should seem to be a dream? But the cabin and the palace, standing side by side in vivid contrast, tell the storj' of this people's progress. They are a history and prophecy in one. Digitized by Microsoft® CIIAPTKU II. BILL SMOTHERS. Tlie name of this romarkable ])ioneer has been variouslj' spelled and pronounced, as Snieather, Sraoathers, Sraither, Smithers, Smothers, etc., but Smither was probably correct; and " Bill " is supposed, of course, to stand for William. The above is the name by which he was familiarly called. He was born on the western frontier of Virginia, near the Ilolston River. His father was a liunter, and frequently took his]son with him to assist in bringing home the game. One morning he started at daylight, telling his wife that he would take a little round and be back to breakfast. As he did not return, a search was made for him. His body was found about two miles from home, nearly devoured by the wild beasts; but the narrow blade of an Indian tomahawk had been driven dee]) into his brain. His wife was so deeply aifected by his death that she lived onlj- nine days, and was placed in death where she had been in life — close by the side of her husband. William was so excited that he did not close his eyes in sleep during the night that followed her burial. Before day he went out, and standing by their graves, boy as he was, he raised his hand to Heaven and swore that he would devote his life to the destruction of the Indian race. And well did "he keep that vow, for he never saw an Indian that he did not shoot at, and he very seldom missed his aim. He felt very conscientious about killing a squaw, and re- joiced that it was never his misfortune to meet with one. AVilliam was twelvs years old at the time of his parents' death. There were also two other children: James, aged nine, and Mollie. aged seven. One of the neighbors, a new comer, having no place of his own, proposed to take care of these orphan children for the rent of the farm. This was agreed upon and he moved in. Dur- ing that same year William went to live with an uncle in Vir- ginia, who agreed to give him a good education, and $100 in money when he became of age. This uncle, whose name wa-* Chrisman, was a man who worshiped the rich and scorned the poo]'. He was so cruel and overbearing to his orphan nephew that the latter ran away from him in a few years. He wandered (03) Digitized by Microsoft® t)4 IIISTOKT OF DAVIESS C<1UN'rY. through the country, stopping wlierever he could lind anything to do, but found his stock of money was growing less and less every day. lie was in a little town called Taylorville, near the Catawba liiver, when Culonel Shelby came thnjugh beating up for volun- teers, and William joined him because lie knew not what else to do. At that time the British had a military post on King's Mountain, so named from the I'act that it stands alone, overlooking the country on all sides. It was at this point that the battle of King's Mount- ain was f.iught between the British and Colonel Shelby's men. The latter were successful, having killed Ferguson and a great many of his men, captured 1,000 prisoners, 2,000 muskets, and all their military stores, and lost very few of their own men. After his discharge, William again wandered around the country until the following spring, when he was taken by a squad of men belonging to General Green's command, who had been sent out to press teamsters to drive the wagons. Although Smothers was ex- empt from the duties of teamster, he was detained until after the battle of Guilford Court-House was fought, and was then dis- charged. After this he could find no employment and con- cluded to return to James River and visit his nncle and friends in that vicinity. But his uncle forgot to give him the $100, al- though he was twenty-one and had a very good education. He bade hiia good-bye, and started for his native town to visit his brother and sister. He found them still living with the man who had taken the farm. This man had a daughter whom Smothers courted one Sunday evening, and married the next Thursday. He was very anxious to proceed immediately to Kentucky, but his wife and sister insisted that the snow and ice on the mountains would endanger their lives; so the move was postponed until spring. On his arrival in Kentucky, he found the jegion around Lexing- ton more densely settled than the country he had left on the Hols- ton. He had come to fight the Indians, and did not feel like taking wages as a hand on a farm. He met a party who were cominir down to fortify in the Green River country, and joined them at once. They built a fort at Hartford, on Rough Creek. When they were besieged they found that the Indians generally came from lower Kentucky, wading Green River at the falls. Thev es- tablished a fort there and called it Vienna. At first, of course, it was only a fort; afterward a town was laid out there and called Vienna. It is now called Calhoon. The father of Wm. and Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 65 Thomas Downs, a Baptist preacher, was the last man killed by the Indians here, which was in 1790-'2, within a few hundred yards of the fort. The section of the country about Vienna was settled up fully ten years before Bill Smothers came to Owensboro; the In- dians seldom came in great force afterward, and they soon scat- tered. Mrs. Smothers lived only a few years after her removal to Kentucky, and died, leaving two daughters and one son. Miss MoUie Smothers remained with her brother many years. Smothers, not liking the dense settlements around Hartford and Yienna, came to the Yellow Banks and built a cabin on the banks of the Ohio. This was about the beginning of the present cent- ury. The cabin was of round logs and had two doors; from one he had a view of the Ohio, and from the other he looked into his garden. On the lower side of the house there was a shed-room, which was made by extending the main roof,, being enclosed by slabs of timber planted in the ground. About four feet of a single log was cut out to make a passway into the room. In it he depos- ited his peltries and groceries, and when he entertained a large company, which was frequently the case, it was converted into a bed-chamber, more agreeable in cold than warm weather, owing to the abundance of deer and bear skins and buffalo robes which were kept there. Nature had been liberal in her gifts to Smothers. In personal courage he was inferior to no man, and he was endowed with a good understanding. The operations of his mind were quick, and there was a sprightliness and point in his conceptions which never failed to interest the listener. In conversation he rarely descended to vulgarity, and never affected the coarse manner or rude speech of the ruffian. His voice, like his mind, was clear and distinct; and if he had received a thorough education he would have been a shining light in the land. But his love of fun was his controlling passion, and led him into many improprieties and may have clouded his memory with crime. In person, he was five feet eleven inches high; his hair and beard were dark brown; his eyes were prom- inent and a clear, deep blue ; his complexion was fair; and the ex- pression of his countenance was playful and intelligent. Whatever he did seemed to be performed deliberately. He spoke the truth, except when he was planning some mischief, and then his fertile imagination readily invented whatever was necessary to the suc- cess of his scheme. On these occasions he could invent the most marvelous and miraculous lies, giving all the particulars and at- 5 Digitized by Microsoft® 66 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. tendant circumstances. Incredulity itself would be silenced by his earnestness of tone and his minuteness of detail. Smothers was delighted with his new home at the Yellow Banks. He was in search of a good hunting-ground for himself, and good range for his horse and cow; and in these respects his situation could not have been improved. From Panther Creek to the Ohio Eiver, and from Green Elver to Blackford, he was the only in- habitant. He roamed the forest alone and slaughtered the game at pleasure. The necessaries and even the luxuries of life were fur- nished to him at his very door. The barges, as they were slowly cordelled by their armed crews, would stop and give him salt, flour and groceries, in exchange for dried venison, bear-meat and buifalo robes. No man below the falls could furnish so sumptu- ous a meal, and ho man ever entertained with more genuine hospi- tality. The visitors had a general partiality for '■ old rye" and ''flour bread," as these articles were unknown in the interior. At the conclusion of one of his repasts, a man called " Leather-legs" wiped his mouth on the skirt of his hunting shirt, and remarked: " Smothers, I believe I will pull up stakes where I am, and come down here." This observation cast a shade over the countenance of Smothers, but he quickly replied, assuring his friend that the unhealthfulness of the climate would greatly endanger his life; "and besides," said Smothers, " I intend paying you a visit on Pond River, and taking a long tramp in the hills; 1 like to hunt in the hills; the water is so much better than it is in the bottoms, and then you are clear of the black gnats, mosquitoes and galli- nippers that swarm in these flats." " Stop, Smothers," said Leather- legs, "you are taking a great deal of pains to tell me that you don't -want me here. I won't come; if I break up I will go to the mouth of the Wolf, or to the Red Banks." "Well, then," said Smothers, "we will be neighbors, and I will call and see you at either point." The remark of Leather-legs made a deep impression upon the mind of Smothers. It proved to him that others were at least thinking of intruding themselves into the small boundaries which he had assigned to himself; that the 150,000 acres of land which he had enjoyed as a hunting-ground would be occupied by other men; that settlements would be made, farms opened, and the game driven away or destroyed, and that he would be left in his old age without the means of support, in the country from which he had expelled the Indians. He did not spend his time in Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 67 gloomy despondency, bnt, like a true man, resolved to make every effort to avert the awful train of calamities which he saw at no great distance ^before him. A surveyor's chain he regarded with particular abhorrence, and, if opportunity presented, he would place it where it would never be stretched again ; corner trees, he thought, ought not to stand, as they would be the starting points for sub- division. It will not be stated that he ever cut one, but many were missing. He determined also that his house should present fewer attractions. His table, instead of luxuries, was supplied with the simplest and coarsest fare of the hunter. He almost deserted his home, wandering weeks and months together in the woods. He hunted deer and bear on this side of the river, killing as many as he wished, and twice a year he took an Indian hunt on the other side, where he was equally as successful. Sleepless days and nights would be spent to get a shot; and at every crack of his rifle an Indian fell. The melancholy and dreadful news, against which he would have gladly closed his ears, at last saluted Smothers, that at least twenty families had arrived upon his territory, and were then preparing to build houses and open plantations. The surveyor with his com- pass and chain was making new lines; the ax was busily plied in felling his trees; and the wedge lustily driven was riving his oaks. His lines had been broken and he was surrounded. In anguish and bitterness of spirit he contemplated his situation, and no ray of light broke through the dark cloud which enveloped him. At first he had almost resolved upon a hostile demonstration, but the number of the emigrants and the respectability of a portion of them, convinced him of the absolute folly and madness of such a course. Like all brave men, when fairly driven to the wall, he made up his mind to meet his fate with fortitude, and, making a virtue of ne- cessity, he determined to cultivate the good opinion of the new comers by a friendly visit to them. Near Blackford he called upon Ely and Natty Bell. At the house of the latter he was agree- ably surprised to find his brother James, who was laying siege to Bell's sister-in-law; she capitulated shortly afterward and they were married. In his circuit he saw Barker and Killenbarger, Holmark and Holinhead, Jones and Jordan, Glenn and Gentry, and on his return home he heard the ax of Felty Husk, who was cut- ting logs to build a house near the residence of Thomas H. Painter. Husk and Smothers afterward contracted a friendship which closed only with their lives. Digitized by Microsoft® 68 HISTORY OF DAVIKSS COUNTY. Hitherto there had been no legal tribunals in this section, and might had generally constituted right. But Anthony Thompson was commissioned and qualified as a Justice of the Peace for Nel- son County. He lived a few miles to the west of Vienna, and his district was about as large as six of our present counties. Thomp- son had a clear head, an iron will, and the kindliest feelings toward the whole human family. The uneasiness which Smothers expe- rienced at the appointment of a magistrate in such close prox- imity to himself gradually faded away. Five years of impunity convinced him that Squire Thompson was his friend; and although he had never seen him, he began to like the man, but rather pre- ferred that Panther Creek should still continue to run between them. One day Thompson called upon Smothers and they were 60 well pleased with one another that they became intimate friends. One sultry evening as the last rays of the setting sun were play- ing upon a bank of cloud, fringing its outline in purple and gold, Smothers and his sister sat upon the doorsteps enjoying the cool air, and silently enjoying the splendors of the scene. Unnoticed by them, a keelboat had made fast at the landing, and several of the men were already in the yard. The foremost, a man by the name of Norris, was of Herculean proportions, and it was the boast of the crew that lie had never met a match in a fisticuff from Louisville to New Orleans. Miss MoUie left the side of her brother and entered the house. When they approached Smothers arose from his seat and invited them to walk in. They indulged themselves in such freedom of remark that Miss MoUie concluded she could not remain with propriety and ran to the house of Felty Husk. Smothers, who had not observed the absence of his sister, remon- strated with them in mild but very decided terras upon their un- becoming and unworthy behavior. The firmness of his manner, and the truth of what he said, made an impression upon the boat- men. Six of the number upon leaving the house called to Norris to come and go to the boat. He told them to go on and that he would be along directly, liut he never went. In the dim twilight Smothers saw ten or twelve of the crew ascending the bank in a line to his house. Retreating by the back door lie concealed him- self in a bed of strawberries which grew in his garden. When they entered ;uid beheld the lifeless body of their comrade and friend extended upon the floor, with the warm blood still trickling from two ghastly wounds, their rage and indignation knew no bounds. They threatened to hunt for Smothers until they found Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 69 him, and to slay him at sight. Perceiving that they were search- ing and ransacking the house, and expecting them in tlie garden, he left his hiding place and spent the night in the woods. At day- light the next morning he knocked at the door of Ben Duncan, Esq., who lived on Pup Creek, ten miles above Yellow Banks. He informed 'Squire Duncan of the nature of the cl)arges which had been made against him on the night previous and demanded a judicial investigation. 'Squire Duncan summoned the boatmen as witi\e6se8 and opened his Court of Inquiry. In answer to the sum- mons the crew came in a body to the house of the justice. Many of them were armed, and declared it to be their intention to seize the prisoner and hang him to a tree. But the friends of Smothers wer« there, and no man had more friends or truer friends than he had. They told the boatmen if they opened the ball in blood that the sun of that day would shine on many a corpse; that Smothers had surrendered himself to the officers of the law and was a pris- oner; that they could give their evidence if they had any, but if a hand was raised in violence they would resist it to the death. As they were prepared to make their words good the examination went on smoothly and quietly. The court decided that the offense was vailable, and required Smothers to give bond and security for his appearance on the "first day of the next term of the Ohio (now Daviess) Circuit Court. The bond was immediately filled by the prisoner and a number of securities, and after recognizing the wit- nesses the court adjourned. Smothers, with six of his chosen friends, returned to his home. The boat was still at the landing, but the war was not renewed. Smothers was much perplexed in mind upon the subject of em- ploying good counsel to argue his case before the Circuit Court. For all minor offenses he had appeared in his own behalf, and had been uniformly successful; but in a case which involved the question of his life or death, he was unwilling to trust himself. But he was poor, and lawyers' fees werehigh, and he knew not well what to do. His anxieties about the matter were happily relieved. The great advocate, Jo Daveiss, knew Smothers well, and admired him greatly for that indomitable courage yhich never had been known to quail in the presence of danger. He heard, at Frankfort, of the affair, and sent Smothers a message which was characteristic of the man: '• Don't ruin yourself hiring lawyers. I will be with you on the day of the trial." Smothers knew his man, and relied upon the promise with implicit confidence. The fame of Jo Daveiss as an orator and Digitized by Microsoft® 70 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. the wide-spread acquaintance of the accused brought a concourse to court, such as had never been seen in Hartford before. The keelboatmen from Louisville were there, and strangers from a circuit of 100 miles were in attendance, curious to see Bill Smothers, and anxious to hear Jo Daveiss. The trial itself was likely to be one of surpassing interest and remarkable singukrity. Only two lawyers would appear, and they were brothers. As soon as the sheriff had made proclamation that the "court was open," Smothers tendered himself in discharge of his bond, and took a seat within the bar. John Daveiss, the Prosecuting Attorney for the district, was much interrupted in his duties during the day by repeated questions concerning his brother: "Where is he?" " "When do you think he'll be here?" " May be he will not come at all." And a variety of inquiries and speculations saluted him wherever he went. On Monday night Jo Daveiss staid at the house of Stephen Stateler, four miles from Hartford, and on Tuesday morning he and Stateler walked into town. Court was already in session, and was devoting the usual hour to motions. Stateler and Daveiss sat upon a bench in a remote corner, engaged in conver- sation. Stateler was much the taller man of the two, but they were dressed alike in blue jeans, and to all appearances were a couple of sensible farmers. Stateler had no idea that he was talking to Jo Daveiss, but still he was strangely fascinated by his company. When Judge Broadnax had disposed of the motions, he opened the docket and called the case of the Commonwealth ve?-sus William Smither, nUas Bill Smothers. John Daveiss was up stairs with the Grand Jury, and of course made no response to the call. State- ler's companion left him and took a seat by the side of his client. Smothers, who was not in the least surprised at the course of his lawyer, shook him warmly by the hand. Broadnax becoming im- patient directed the sheriff to summon the attorney for the Com- monwealth. John Daveiss walked down stairway, and with his papers in his hand stepped in the doorway where he had a short conference with his witnesses. Broadnax repeated the call of the case with emphasis, and said he wished to be advised if the Commonwealth was ready. John Daveiss, stepping inside the bar, said he believed he would not apply for a continuance, although one important witness had not yet arrived; that he might come during the progress of the trial, and he reserved the privilege of taking his testimony. " What say you, Mr. Smothers?" said his 'lonor. Tlie shrill voice of Jo Daveiss answered, "We are ready for the defense." Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 71 John Daveiss, recognizing the voice of his brother, embraced him affectionately, and having introduced him to Broadnax and the bar, proceeded to impanel a jury. The evidence in the main was in accordance with the fact already stated. Jo Daveiss made no labored effort at cross-examination, but permitted the witnesses to make their statements in their own way, sometimes putting a sin- gle question to elicit an explanation. When the attorney announ- ced that the testimony was closed in behalf of the Commonwealth, Jo Daveiss exchanged a few words with Smothers, and then rose and said, that his client, from motions of delicacy, had positively refused to introduce liis sister, who was the only witness that could' state anything material to the defense; that the prosecuting at- torney might proceed with his argument to the jury. By the feel- ing manner in which he made this simple statement, he seemed already to have gained the vantage ground. But John Daveiss was a man of no ordinary ability, and knowing that he had to cope with one of the greatest advocates of this countrj' or the world, he put forth his full strength in his opening speech, endeavoring to forestall the impression which had always attended the powerful efforts of his brother. The evidence was arranged in a masterl manner, and he closed by a spirited and strong appeal to the jury to discharge their sworn duties honestly and faithfully, exhorting them to disregard alike the fame and passion of the orator who was to follow him, and assuring them that whilst the wicked might re- joice at acquittal, all good men would say amen to the condemna- tion and execution of a marauder, an outlaw, an assassin and a murderer. That wonderfully eloquent and strangely eccentric man, Jo Da- veiss, then rose to address the jury. It was his ambition to do everything after a fashion that nobody else in the world ever had attempted. He was never known to ride to a court-house, but made his circuit on foot, whilst a negro boy accompanied him on horseback, carrying his papers and clothing in a pair of saddle- bags. His manner, his style, his tactics at the bar, were all his own, and they all lie buried with their master in the field of Tippe- canoe. J!AVi:i». rn^NlY. abl}' tlie greatest forensic effort of hi^ life. It was made for a triend, without ho])C of reward, and the whole power of mind, body and Koul were jionred forth in liis cause. He commenced as it' he liad a fee to {insist in tiu: j)rosecution. He reiterated tlic stroiiii; points in the attorney's S]ieeeh, a)id of- fered additional ai'guments in favor of conviction. Tlie friends of theaccnsed began to whisper that ho was a snake in the ojrass, and tliat he had come to help his brother, and the ej-es of Smothers were raised in calm siir])riseto the face of his counsel, lint Daveiss went on urging that an acquittal, under all the circumstances, would be a monstrous fiutrage upon law and justice, and insisting that the jury ought, without hesitation, to hang the criminal. Adopt- ing all the epithets which had been so liberally bestowed, he called upon them to haiig the maiauder. hang the outlaw, hang the assas- sin, hang the murderer. Pi'ooKorno proof, let the hangman pro- ceed on his mission of strangulatioi>. That such, in effect, was the common reasoning of prosecuting attorneys, and lie had been repeating in substance what had fallen from the gentleman who ])receded him; but the law was es- tablished u])on principles precisely of an opposite character. He dwelt upon tlie tenderness and mercy of the law, and the safeguard it threw around the life and liberty of the citizen. That malice, premeditated malice, was an essential ingredient in making out a case of murder, and without it there was no murder. That if the killing was in sudden heat, it was manslaughter; and if the blow was given in self defense, or in defense of family and home, then it became a virtue, and was no crime at all. Without a note he reviewed the evidence from beginning to end, calling the names of the witnesses as he went, and contended that the Commonwealth had tailed to prove that his client had slain the deceased. That he was found dead in the house of the prisoner at the bar, but no man had seen the prisoner inflict the wound. That circumstances, however conclusive they might appear, were frequently deceptive. He read a case in the' English Reports where an innocent man had been executed u]jon circumstantial evidence even stronger than that before the jury, and took the po- sition that the unscrupulous and vindictive prosecutor was guilty of murder, and that the twelve jurors were his aiders and abetters, because they did not require that ])ositive and undeniable proof which leaves no room for a reasonable doubt. That if. in truth, it was the hand of Smothers that directed the blade, the facts in the Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 73 case waiTanted tlie conclusion that the other was tlie aggressor. That the prisoner was a man of sense and a man of prudence, and never would have sought an encounter with a giant, whose physi- cal force was so great that he had never found an equal; and who had a host of thirty comrades who would have rushed to his call and staked their lives in the (juarrel. That the deceased was the aggressor in the beginning, and it was a fair iuforence that he so continued to the end. That unhidden he had invaded the precincts of the prisoner's home, and in return for civility and hospitality, had offered insult and injury. That his foul, false tongue had aimed to fix the seal of infamy upon the spotless tablet of a maiden sister's fame. That when his companions, im]ielled by repentance and remorse, had left the house, he lingered upon the spot. That if Smothers had slain him, he slew him in the holy cause of religion and of virtue, and that the King of Heaven had strengthened the arm that drove the pointed steel to his heart. He paid an eloquent and glowing tribute to the brave pioneers, who, by their toil, sweat and blood, had won the great valley ot the Mississippi from the Indians, and consecrated it to agriculture, to commerce and to the arts. He denounced in terms of the bitterest indignation the deepingiatitude of the Government which suffered them to languish and die in poverty and neglect, whilst all its favors and patj-onage were lavished upon fawning sycophants and cringing parasites and flatterers, who knelt and worshi])ed at the footstool of power. That a golden crown had been tendered to Julius Caesar for his victories in (xaul, and for the addition of that province to the lioman territory. That these men had conquered an empire thrice as great and thrice as fertile as Oaul; and neitlierthe charity, nor the bounty, nor the justice of the Government had ever induced it to bestow upon one of them so much as an iron skillet. That a representative of that Government was here to-day appeal- ing to a jury of the country for the blood of one of the bravest, because he had stood upon the tlireshold of his rude hut, which was his castle in the eyes of the law, and had defended his family against the licentious and wanton insults of a blackguard and ruffian. Were he in place of his client he would leave his Govern- ment, and seek ".sonic boundless contiguity of shade, wliere the rumor of oppression and of wrong might never reach him more.' That if Smothers had to die, it was meet and appropriate that he shouhl die at Hartford. Hartford had been the theater of his valor, and Harttui-d shoidd be the scene of his execution. That Digitized by Microsoft® 74 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. he came with the party that erected the first fortification; that his hand dug the ditch and planted the palisade; and when the Indi- ans besieged and fired upon you from stump, bush and tree, whose aim was deadliest and whoso rifle rang clearest in your defense? and when they were defeated and turned their backs in retreat, who was fleet-footed enough to lead the van in the pursuil? Who hovered around them like a destroying spirit until he had djed the waters of your rivers in their blood ? Who trailed them to their homes beyond the prairies, and restored your stolen property without evei- receiving one cent in compensation? That whatever falsehoods may have been invented and circulated against his client, the forked tongue of slander itself had never charged that his soul had been stained by the sin of avarice. That with am])le opportunities of securing an immense landed estate, there was not a foot upon the earth that he could call his own. That while others had en- riched themselves by speculation, peculation, violence and fraud, the poverty of Smothers was a vindication of the sterling integrity of the man. That his public service needed no rehearsal. That Isaac Shelby, in a conversation, liad endorsed the heroic conduct of the "boy Bill Smothers " at King's Mountain. Tliat he carried in his pocket an honorable discharge from (leneral Green, after the great battle of Eutaw. That after he came to the West, the hills and valleys and the rivers had witnessed activity that never tired, eyes that never slept, and courage that never flinched in the hour of danger. That if they met the demands of the C-rovernmcnt oflScial by the sacrifice of the life of the prisoner, let the martyr- dom occur on the mound on which we stand; let the last glance of tlie departing soldier rest upon the scene where in the vigor of manhood iio strove to give peace and security to your liomes and firesides; and as his slender form swings in the air, take a long and a last look at the truest and l)oldest man that ever raised an arm in your defense. In his charge to the jury, Judge Broadnax himself approved the able lawyer and the upright man. Forgetting tiie many an- noyances of Smothers, he exhorted the jury to look in mercy upon the prisoner, and to give him the benefit of every reasonable doubt. The jury, after a retirement of ten ininates, brouglit in a verdict of " not guilty." Smothers invited his counsel to go home with him, and Daveiss accepted the invitation. He was so well pleased witli the country around Yellow lianks tliat he settled the place afterward owned Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTT. 75 by James Kiidd, and planted the orchard which stands upon the slope of the hill. His brother, John Daveiss, not long afterward commenced opening the farm upon which the Crutchers subse- quently resided, and now owned by Mr. Lostetter, and lived there tor many years. The speech of Jo Daveiss opened to the mind of Smothers a new field of thought and a new object of enmity. All his private and personal animosities were forgotten in the disgust and indig- nation which he felt toward his Government. Hitherto he had regarded bear-hnnting and Indian-fighting as the greatest pleasures of his existence; but he now refiected that he had expended the flower of his youth and the strength of his manhood in destroying wild beasts and savages, that he might increase the power and re- sources of a Government which had sought his life; and that that Government, with means beyond his power of computation, had failed to make the slightest provision for his wants, and would neglect him to the end. The voice of Jo Daveiss ever sounded in his ears that he ought to seek some shade where he would be free from oppression and from wrong. Brooding in silence over such subjects, he came to the deliberate conclusion that a proper self- respect required him to leave the territory of the United States. When he arrived at this conviction he confided his purpose to no one, but began to make necessary preparations for his depart- ure. He had always felt a strong partiality for Bob Tarlton and other friends on Kough Greek, and he could not think of going without seeing them; and to make the visit as pleasant as possible he proposed a big bear-hunt. In company with Husk and Glenn, he started with his dogs to go directly to the house of Tarlton. He found Tarlton and his friends in a grand spree. After spend- ing a day with them, they all started on a hunt, which lasted sev- eral days. They succeeded in killing a monstrous bear, which they quartered and took to their camp at the Falls of Rough. On his return to his home, Smotlvers commenced making active preparations for his departure. About the first of February he went to the house of his brother James, who lived near Blackford, to spend a night with him and bid hini a last adieu. When he announced his intention, his brother, overwhelmed by the sudden shock, gave free vent to his sorrow. He considered their separa- tion the greatest calamity that could have befallen him. lie clung to him and insisted on going with him. Bill remonstrated with him, "Jim, be a man. If I had been hung at Hartford, I should Digitized by Microsoft® 76 HISTORY OK DATIJSSS COUNTY. not have drawn a sigh nor shed a tear, and I don't like to see yoit crying as if you were a woman or a child. " When Smothers had taken leave of his sister and embraced liis brother's children, he stepped out of the door and saw his brother James leading a conple of horses from the stable, and informed him that all liands were going to accompany him home. They re- mained with liim several days. One day at dinner Smothers in- formed his brother that he wished to start the next morning at sunrise. Rising from the table they took an affectionate farewell. James and family returned liorae, and the next morning Smothers, with his three dogs, stepped into his skiff, and they were shoved off by Husk. After a prosperous voyage of two weeks, Smothers landed at New Orleans. He spent one day in that city in purchasing ammu- nition and embarked on the next, descending the Mississippi toward the delta. He passed through the right hand mouth of that river and entered the Gulf of Mexico; hugging the shore, he rowed along in the direction of Texas. After tvyo or three deten- tions he rowed into Galveston Bay about the first of May, and spent a month on the Island of Galveston — the only quiet month he had known for forty years. He again started on his journey and this time landed at the mouth of Yeagua Creek, where he began to look about for a permanent home. He selected a place forty miles from the si)ot where he landed, a place combining more advantages than any other in the country. For fifteen years iSmothers trod the wilderness alone, except an occasional meeting with an adventurer like himself who was will- ing to brave the dangers in order to enjoy the pleasures of the chase; and then he made it convenient to separate as soon as possi- ble, believing that it was safest to be alone. He was satisfied with his manner of life,' but it was his destiny to return to the habits of civilized life, and in view of his age he did not regret the change. One of his daughters, Mrs. Berry, a woman of a kind and affec- tionate disposition, was devotedly attached to her father, and induced her husband to follow him to Texas, that she might at least provide for some of his wants. The tears streamed from her eyes as she beheld his emaciated form and tottering steps. She made every effort and used every argument in her power to induce him to make her house his home that she might care for him in his old age. But her importunate attentions wearied him, and he declared he would never go to see her again as he could have no Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 77 peace in her house. He was very fond of his grandchildren and spent a great deal of time in play with them. At last Smothers told his daughter that some friends from the Brasses had promised to be at his house early in the fall and that no consideration would induce him to be absent on their arrival. A presentiment that she was seeing her father for the last time overwhelmed her with sorrow at their separation. Even the fortitude of Smothers was shaken by this manifestation of filial aifection. Early in October his friends started to take the hunt with Smothers. They hitched their horses near a spring, walked up the hill and got over the yard fence. The dogs sallied forth to resist intrusion upon their prostrate master, but they were quieted upon hearing familiar voices. When they entered the house they saw the form of Smothers extended upon a bear skin. He wore a white woolen cap, but his locks and his beard were whiter still. His tomahawk was belted to his side and his open palm rested gently upon the back of his gun which stood in the corner. The active limbs were stiff and cold. The tongue that had urged on the strife was mute. The pulse that had beaten high in the van of bat- tle had ceased to throb. The devoted friend, the implacable enemy, the lion-hearted Smothers was no more. The hero of the foi'ogoing history is thus noticed by the cele- brated Washington Irving in his " Experiences of Ralph Ring- wood," who was Governor Duval, of Florida. The latter was hunting in the wilds near Yellow Banks, when he saw a stranger, and the following conversation ensued: "What are you after?" •cried he. " Those deer," replied I, pettishly; "but it seems as it they never stand still." Upon that he burst out laughing. " Where are you from ?" said he. "From Richmond." "What! in Old Virginny?" "The same." "And how on earth did you get here?" " I landed at Green River from a broad-horn." "And ■where are your companions?" "I have none." "What! all alone?" "Yes." " Where are you going?" "Anywhere." "And •what have you come for ?" " To hunt. " " Well," said he, laugh- ingly, "you'll make a real hunter; there's no mistaking that! Have you killed anything?" "Nothing but a turkey; I can't get within shot of a deer; they arc always running." "Oh, I'll tell you the secret of that. You're always pushing forward, and starting the deer at a distance, and gaze at those that are scampering; but you must step as slow and silent, and cautious as a cat, and keep your eyes close around you, and look Digitized by Microsoft® <^ HlSTliKY r>F DAVlKS^- i;ni'NTV. from tree to tree, if yon wish to get a chance at deer. But come, go home with me. My name is Bill Smothers; I live not far off; stay witli me a little while and I'll teach you how to hunt." I gladly accepted the invitation of honest Bill Smothers. "We soon reached his habitation, a mere log Init, with a square hole for a window, and a chimney made of sticks and clay. Here he lived with a wife and child. He had " girdled " the trees for an acre or two around, preparatory tr> clearing a space for corn and potatoes. In the meantime he maintained his family entirely by his rifle, and I soon tbund him to be a iirst-rate huntsman. Under his tutelage I received my lirst effective lessons in " woodcraft." •:<- * * * * After I had passed ten or twelve days with Bill Smothers,! thought it time to shift my quarters, for his home was scarce large enough for his own family, and I had no idea of being an incumbrance to any one. I accordingly made np my bundle, shouldered my rifle, took a fi-iendly leave of Smothers and his wife, and set out in quest of a Nimrod of the wilderness, one John Miller, who lived alone, nearly forty miles off, and who I hoped, would be well pleased to have a hunting companion. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER III. LIFE AND TIMES OF ROBERT TRIPLETT. The substance of this chapter is extracted from a remarkably interesting and valuable work entitled "fioland Trevor," which is in fact an autobiography of Mr. Triplett; and rs it gives so much early history pertaining to this region of Kentucky, we feel justi- fied in publishing the following extracts in this connection. The first several paragraphs we quote entire, as they embody the max- ims of his life, and seem to be as valuable as the noted sayings of "PoorEichard." "The life of every man contains a lesson to his successor which may be of value if properly written out. It is a chart, showing where the shoals and breakers lie which prodxice failures in his en- terprises as well as where the deep and smooth waters are found in the sea of prosperity. There are few who have arrived at the age of fifty and have been prosperous, who could not be more so if they had their lives to pass over again, and quite as few who, hav- ing been unfortunate, cannot look back and see the causes to which they owe their misfortunes. A father, then, who has the time, should fiirnish his son with this chart while his mind is yet in that pliant condition which adapts it to receive the lessons of experi- ence; before a dogmatic self-will has impressed him with an idea of his own smartness which makes him deaf to the instruction of others. " The most important lesson which my experience has taught me is the conviction that the human mind is progressive in all its stages, and that upon no subject has it ever filled the measure of knowledge to be obtained therein. The conceited, therefore, wlio turn from instruction under a belief that they have nothing more to learn upon any subject, only show the shallowness of their un- derstandings. The mind very quickly determines from Ixearing a lecturer whether there is a probability of adding anything to the store of knowledge already possessed on any given subject, and if not, it would be waste of time to listen to him; but one should not, therefore, cease to make inquiries through more intelligent sources. "In politics, religion, medicine, and many other sciences, cer- (79) Digitized by Microsoft® 80 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. tain sects have formed their opinions and will hear nothing to shake them. How is it possible that the mind can learn if the book of knowledge is closed ? When I observe a man listening with respect to opinions not in accordance with his own as if he gave due weight to them and wished to ascertain what merit they were entitled to, and what he can gather from them to improve his own stock of knowledge, I consider that he has a well-balanced mind ; one possessed of natural strength, and capable of gathering strength as it goes. There are, indeed, very few minds of this character that are not of the first order. If, after having heard all that is to be said, although dissenting in opinion, a man gives full weight to all the arguments that deserve it, setting them forth in their strongest light, and even adding others in support of the views which have been given as suggested by those of the speaker, but still, in a decorous manner, showing why they fail to convince him, I naturally lean to that man. I am satisfied there is no prejudice about him; that he is in search of light, of truth, of justice, — in a word, a well-bred gentleman; for, whether he come from the cottage or the palace, he is one of nature's noblemen. If schools and parental teaching have not made him a gentleman, nature has. The opinions of such a man are always listened to with respect. They always have great weight, and the author will hold friends wherever he goes; such a man will make proselytes. But, on the contrary, if a man listen with an apparent anxiety to detect you in a false position, in a slip of language, showing that his object is victory in argument and not to elicit truth, refusing to admit self- evident facts or reasonable influences, requiring proof of what a candid mind ought to admit, indeed, leaving an impression on his adversary that he is not inclined to deal fairly, — that man may exhibit his ingenuity, his tact, hrs skill in argument, but he leaves an impression on his adversary of a very unenviable kind, that he is lacking in candor, frankness, honesty, nobleness. There are many grades of all these qualities, and if I had to select a man to transact my business on account of his honesty, and one should be recommended as standing unexceptionably witli the world, who suited me in all other qualifications, if I were to hear him offer unfair arguments I would not employ him, because the honest heart can do notiiing unfair. He wlio will make up an unfair account in argument will do it in dollars and cents whenever a sufficient temptation ofi'ers. '' Once in conversation with a distinguished politician who aimed to be a leader, I admitted that on a certain point a political oppo- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 81 nent was right (he and I agreed in politics) ; ' Oh, no, no,' said he, 'you are wrong.' Even-tnallj, however, I satisfied him that I thought I was right, if I failed to convince him. Not being able to convince me, he took me by the hand and said, 'You are a young politician, and some hints may be of service to you. Allow me to suggest that we never ought to concede that our opponents are right when they differ from the received doctrines of our party.' ' Wiiy, sir,' said I, ' that would be a monstrous principle to ad- rait. Each party then would maintain its gromd from the mere love of opposition. Every member of each would have his opinions molded for him by his leaders; he would be a mere machine, and not an intelligent being. I shall never subscribe to such opinions, sir, and hope our party will not.' From that moment I lost all re- spect for this man, and he finally forfeited the respect of his party. There is a set of hardened political jockeys who laugh at the idea of political honesty, and view any man's pretention to it as evidence of greenness and simplicity. But for my part I cannot conceive that a man can be morally honest and politically dishonest. If a mau is honest at all, the principle prevails with him throughout. It will not travel with him through morality, and then leave him in politics or religion. "Honest}' consists in never acting unfairly, whether in trade, politics or religion. Many an honest man has gone to jail for debt fairly contracted, but which unexpected events made it impossible for him to pay; ma"ny a politician has greatly injured his country by misguided opinions fairly entertained; and man}' an honest man has incurred public odium from professing religious opinions which he sincerely believed. "The mind of the young should be honest; that is, open to light and willing to hear the truth and admit it. Every truth stored in the mind is future mental capital; and as it is said money begets money, growing and compounding in its growth in proportion to its aggregation, so do truths. Every addition to the mass of correct thinking streng*^' ens the mind and adds to its power of collecting new truths, which finally constitute a mind so strong and clear that it has no false view of anything. On the contrary, the man who aims only at controversial victory, and seeks only weapons, fair or unfair, to attain success, accepting the fair and unfair arguments of others wherever they can be found to answer his purpose, ceases from that time to strengthen his mind by accumulating truths; and such a man must always occupy a second- 6 Digitized by Microsoft® 82 HISTOEY OF D.AVTF!^;- < "i .1 N ; \ ary stand. I do not mean to say that t!: i';i ii'S-t! i^rner of talent in the lack of honesty; that aid wliis ii tlic Jieart, <:.\-!- t., the head, — which makes eloquence 60 po\Y«;rlV^ arid incsisiCii^ia when there is a consciousness of right. "The young mind should learn to be cha)'itai3le, and slow to condemn an opponent for dift'ereiice of opinion, or for crime where there is lack of proof. This world is awfully uncharitable, and prone to condemn on the first accusation without investigating the justice of the charges. Hence, mischief-makers in society so often succeed in estranging friends from each other by starting reports in which there is no just foundation. The young heart, while it should not be so credulous as to be imposed upon, should be pre- disposed to a good opinion of human nature, otherwise its own good feelings will be corroded and hardened. While we allow that there is enough of baseness in the world to put us on our guard and give us reasonable caution, we should also allow that there are virtue and merit enough to open and warm our hearts. Happiness depends much on the sympathy of virtuous hearts. To allow that there is but little virtue in the world would be to leave the vir- tuous heart desolate indeed. Such is not the fact. There is much to authorize us in giving our confidence and affection, observing a reasonable prudence in doing so. In carrying out this idea I do not mean to say that a man must lend his money or his name fool- ishly to others. No friend would ask it beyond your ability con- veniently to spare it. To that extent a man may be justifiable, but certainly not further. An acquaintance will sometimes present himself with a note or bond, and say: ' I wish you to indorse this for me; it is a mere nominal thing; you will never hear of it again.' The nature of trade renders mutual aid sometimes neces- sary, and all who need it should, if practicable, make arrangements for reciprocal accommodations, securing each other for doing so. '< There are, however, friends who, under certain circumstances, are entitled to oui aid, when it would be ungenerous to refuse it; and vvhert- v/e can see that, without dishonesty, we are not very likely to lose we should give it. We are all sometimes so circum- Htance.^ u,T to lendc'i- Euc-h aid necosKary, and even at the hazard of li)-iii];;^ vvu oii'jjit to give it. n^ft never carry this friendship so far thht, is y m HTve to pay 'aV. it will injure you. Many men keep no Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOUY OF IIAVIIOSS COUNTY. 8;> account of thoir indorsements, and are finally mined when they were not aware that they were liable as sennrity to bnt a small amount. I-et me now impress on you to open a security account the first time you put your name on paper for any man, and make this entry: 'Security Account to Bills Payable,' for this amount due on the day of , by A. B , for whom I have in- dorsed $ ." The father of Robert Triplett was a man of great energy and enterprise, and although he met with great reverses of fortune he never became disheartened. Previous to the last war with England he owned coal mines in Virginia, besides a valuable plantation; but the coming on of the war and the blockading of the Chesa- peake made bankrupt every coal-miner, himself among the rest. His limited means prevented his giving his son Hobert the educa- tion which was customary for the sons of Virginia gentlemen to receive. He was well versed in the English branches and could write French with tolerable ease, but his education was not thor- oughly classical. This caused great humiliation to the mind of young Robert. At an early age he was put to live vfitii a merchant in Richmond, a wholesale importer, without wages, but merely to learn business. A friend of this merchant, who was in the habit of calling there, was so well pleased with the manner in which Robert discharged his duties that he solicited his services in his own estab- lishment. As his employer had very little for him to do he offered no objection, Robert readily agreed to make the change and went to work with renewed energy. His new employer was a Scotch importer of salt, china, crockery, queen's-ware, wine, brandj', etc., all of which was sold by the pipe or crate. As he was remarkbaly fond of his ease, he very soon gave his business matters entirely into Robert's hands. As the time of the latter was not wholly occupied with his duties he spent most of his evenings in reading and study. He made it a rule to read at least 200 pages of solid matter every week. He even wrote out an epitome of the histories of Rome and Greece, His genius ran in the line of math- ematics. Mr. Triplett's first speculation was in the coal mines. There was an immense body of coal piled at his father's yard which he could do nothing with, as the English fleet lay in the Chesapeake, and it could not be exported. Robert observed that coal was $1 per bushel in Baltimore, and insurance twenty-five per cent. He asked and gained his father's consent to make an adventure in it. Digitized by Microsoft® KISTORY OF .DAVIESS (JOUNTV. He shipped 3,000 bushels and cleared about $550. He made one ur two other adventures and was extremely successful. Soon after •Jiis lie left hi--. einplo\'er and went to work for a merchant at Nor- foft- at asalarj ..i'$000 per annum. He gave nearly all his earn- itigs to iiis frither to relieve his embarrassments. I.-i l!il7 Mr. Triplett accepted an offer from Judge Bouldin, t tL'v'.uior of the estate of David Ross, to come to Kentuck}' to set- tle up that estate. There were then no railroads, nor steamboats on the Ohio except one or two that had commenced below the Falls. Horseback was the usual mode of traveling to the West. He made the trip to Frankport in sixteen days. Here he remained for some time ill the discharge of the duties attendant upon his mission. About the year J 820 Mr. Triplett came to Owensboro in com- pany with an acquaintance. On arriving within twenty-five miles of the town his companion informed him that they had reached the beginning of the great survey of M., B. & Co'., which extended six miles below Owensboro; thirty-one miles in length, and containing 160,000 acres. About three miles above the town they came in sight of the Ohio River which Mr. Triplett now saw for the first time. It was very full, nearly up to its banks on the Indiana side. The court-house had been built in Owensboro, and a number of cabins*; but there were not more than two or three brick chimneys in the town. After his friend had completed bis business they returned to Frankport. After making a complete digest of his Kentucky business, Mr. Triplett returned to Yirginia, with the intention of joining his brother in business; bat Judge Bouldin was very unwilling to dispense with his services and he was induced to continue. So he departed a second time for Frankport. About this time there was a moneyed crisis in Kentucky, and the " Independent Bank sys- tem" was introduced. This was giving a bank to almost every county in the State. Mr. Triplett foresaw a general bankruptcy of tliose institutions, and wrote several essays, under fictitious sigua tares, to endeavor to stay the ruin, but all his efforts were vain, (This subject is treated more fully in the "Outline History of Kentucky.") After the rising of the Legislature this year Mr. T; .ilarted tor the Yellow Banks, to look into the land there, to seo about i;(rttii)!; possession of it and selling it. His first objeel was to survey out all the interfering claims, and ascertain how much of the land wa.^ clear in title, and what occupants were on it; then to have a'l titat Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOBT or DAVIESS COtTNTT. 86 was clear in title sectiouized into tracts of from 200 to 400 acres, with an accurate description attached to each section of the land contained in it, with the probable value thereof, springs, improve- ments, etc., with the settlors thereon. Having obtained an lionest surveyor for the purpose, he started him on the work. But new diflBcnlties presented themselves which were likelj to give him much trouble. The occupants refused to surrender the land; he had no leases frqm them, and they acknowledged no tenancy; but they denied his right. The number of parties concerned would render a suit very troublesome, and it was important to avoid it if possi- ble. Most of the occupants were reasonable if left to themselves, but an effort was made to create resistance, and many were the "shooting " threats made if Mr. Triplett went on to certtyn lands. But he braved them all and no serious difficulty ensued. He en- countered one obstinate fellow who was afterward killed in a street- fight in Owensboro. Mr. T. was successful in his undertaking at this point, and then returned to Frankfort. He proceeded to put in form the materials he had collected at Yellow Banks in regard to the entries of Eoss and May, which he had surveyed. They called to begin at the upper end of the Yellow Banks, about forty miles above Green Eiver, and run to the lower end thereof, and back for quantity. He had had a front profile of the bank taken at the upper and lower end and at various intermediate points; had all neatly painted, and an argument framed lo sustain the entry, which was in litigation. The large entry of May, Bannister & Co. was also in litigation, but with a decision against them. On looking over the record and applying the facts which he knew of, Mr. Triplett saw there was a fatal defect, which had escaped notice. The ar- gument about the Yellow Banks entries was very long and com- plex. During this fallJudge Bouldin came out to Kentucky, and Mr. Triplett gave him an exhibit of his work. Judge B. iilstructed him to abandon the entry of May, Bannister & Co., and rely on the patent only. Mr. T. showed him the condition of every- thing at Yellow Banks, with which he seemed pleased; and in consequence of there being a large surplus in the entries of Boss & May, which could not be held against an elder patent, he was advised to go to Washington City to see the Masons and endeavor to compromise with them, givinjg one half for the other. These things being settled, the Judge returned to Yirginia. The papers, including many relating to titles of land, were in Cincinnati, and there it was necessary for Mr. Triplett to go to get Digitized by Microsoft® 8B HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. thein. Having accomplished the object of his visit he returned to Frankfort, and having obtained the necessary powers, proceeded to Washington, where he met the Masons; but none were authorized to act, so lie failed in making the desired arrangement. He then returned to Frankfort, where he remained until the time for the sale at the Yellow Banks, when he went down. He had a large number of maps prepared of the sectionized land to be sold, with books of surveys, the lots numbered and described, so that with a map anyone could find any lot and examine it, and the sale and transfer by number was very simple and easy. Such land as he did not sell at auction he was ready afterward to sell in his office. A reference to his book of surveys gave him quantity, quality and value. He had contracts all printed, as also deeds, bonds and every necessary paper, with the prices on the face of each tract; and after he would sell a tract of land, have all the papers signed, and the whole transaction closed in thirty minutes. During his stay at Yellow Banks Mr. Triplett put up at Mrs. Adams's tavern ; and although she had not a brick chimney to her house, she had everything neat and tidy, and her meals were well cooked; indeed, everything as good and comfortable as her means would admit of, and three pretty daughters to set off the whole to advantage. As long as Mr. Triplett kept his affairs within iiis own control, he went on regularly upward until his income reached $7,000 or $3,000 per annum. But as soon as business expanded until it became necessary to employ agents, although well planned, and upon a basis which in all probability promised success, it then commenced losing, and so continued until a greater portion of what had been previously made was sunk. The next slop was a speculation in coal. His friend G. came with him to tlio Yellow Banks and was delighted at the prospect. Coal had been discovered in their Bonharbor hills. Tlie coal, for which jio purcliased the property, was only a thin vein at the river, but a hunter, seeing them working this, said he could show them a better voiu in r,hi' hills, which he did, to the depth of four and a liHit' teci. And from this to the Ohio, three quarters of a mile ruey made the first railway, in 1S20, which was made in Kentucky ;ind, yjr'jbiibly, in the West. The next year they commenced ■ioliveiing- coal to stenmboiUs, being the first attempt below the t;i,ils, if tK>{ the iirsL attempt in the West, to use coal as a steam- lu)!.^ file!. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 87 About this time (1826 or 1827), Mr. Triplett married Miss Pe- gram. He first settled in Frankfort, but his presence being very much needed in Haphazard, a place in Daviess County where he had previously purchased land, a portion of which had to be drained to make it of any value, he decided to move there. The firm was losing money by their distilleries; nothing went well with them, and they stopped the largest, still continuing one and the steam-mill. Everything looked discouraging. There was a ray of hope let in from the coal mines. Their first experiment had been profitable, and it was determined that Mr. B., one of the partners, should go to New Orleans to make arrangements to try to get it into use among the planters or sugar-makers. He author- ized an agent to act in the business, and returned, and they proceeded to send down coal, oflPering it for fifty cents a barrel. The experiment was eminently successful, every load being sold before it arrived. Fortune sliowered so many favors upon them that they proceeded to make arrangements for the next year's work upon a very large scale. In February, 1829, a difiiciilty occurred with their distiller. As this event and its results are very interesting, we give the details in Mr. Triplett's own words: " The vile business seemed to go wrong in every way. I found our distiller had been cheating us and charged him with it. This brought on a fist-fight, the only one I had ever been engaged in since leaving school. He was a powerful man, over six feet high, and would have gotten the better of me had we not been parted. My brother-in-law, Dr. P., being present, interposed, and I left the distillery, and with him went down to our office, pretending to be entirely pacified, and laughing heartily at the occurrence as a good joke; but as soon as I had thrown the Doctor off his guard and got him to leave me, I returned to the distillery with a toma- hawk, determined to drive the distiller out. But, fortunately for me, ho had gone, for lie was a desperate character, and with his mash-stick would have been an overmatch for me with my toma- hawk. 1 now had the distillery closed and the business stopped. The distillei- threatened to sue me for violation of contract, but we compromised the matter by agreeing to leave it to arbitration. In this arbitration occurred a ditliculty which caused mc circumstan- tially to relate the above afiair with the distiller, which otherwise would not have been wortli naming. Mr. T. Y., the most promi- nent lawyer in our district, a inan of naturally good heart Digitized by Microsoft® 88 HISTORY OF UAVIESS COUNTY. but of most ungovernable passion, was my adver!:ary's lawyer, and, in the course of bis speeeli spoke of the • stratagem of Mr. T.' "When the argument was over I remarked to him that he had used an expression which he must withdraw. ' What expression?' said he. I replied that he had accused me of stratagem in my dealings with the distiller. ' I did not allude to j-ou,' he replied, ' I meant your brother's stratagem of argument.' My brotlicr was my lawyer in tlic case. 'Ah, well,' I replied, 'I am glad to hear it.' 'Ibit,' lie rejoined, ' I am always responsible for what 1 say.' "About six months before this when T. and myself were taking some depositions, he had been needlessly harsh, as 1 thought, on my witness. I took him out to give him a friendly talk about it. His usual mode of proceeding in such cases was harsher than I was disposed to bear with; but he was so accustomed to it that he did not see any harm in it. We were neighbors and I was anxious to keep on friendly terms with him. So I told him, and that to this end more courtesy would be necessary on his part. He took this as a threat and said he would not be threatened by any man. I told him that so far from its being designed as a threat, I designed by it to avoid any cause of quarrel if possible. But, as I had missed my object, and to the public, if we did quarrel, there might be a semblance of my being in the wrong, I did not intend then to let him draw me mto a quarrel; but at any other time when he felt inclined to seek a quarrel with me he should be gratified. Thus we parted, and we were both on the lookout for the slightest provo- cation. Under other circumstances I should not have deemed his remark sufficiently offensive to require me to call him to account for it, nor he would not have refused to let his explanation stand. •' Seeing now that I had mistaken him, and although determined not to take the shadow of an insult from him (especially as ho held the whole country in dread, for when in a passion he lost all control of hiuiself), I was still anxious to avoid a quarrel if 1 could do so v/ith credit. When he said; 'I am always responsible for what T say,' I looked him earnestly in the face and replied. 'Mr. T., while I believed you intended to insult me, I intended to call you to account for it. When I perceived ray error I was anxious that the difiiculty should go no farther. Your explanation was satis- factory, and under that explanation tliereis no need for you to hold yourself accountable; there is nothing to be accounted for. Let mti heg of yon now to let this matter stop where it is?' He replied that he- withdrew his explanation. I walked up to him with a view Digitized by Microsoft® UISTOKY OF DAVIESS OOTIMTY. 89 to make a personal attack upoa him, when my brother cried out, 'Good God! Robert, you are not going to strike a lame man.' I halted, and looked at him and said, 'I will not strike you, sir, nor will I challenge you, abhorring duelling as I do, but nevertheless I will accept a challenge from yon, and thatyuu may not be without provocation for one, I tell you that I only now spare you in con- sideration of your lameness. Now challenge me if you dare.' Our friends jumped in between us, several taking hold of him, and several hold of me. To those who attempted to hold me, I remarked in the language of a man of whom I had read, ' One man can hold me: the balance of you go and hold Mr. T.' "In due time the challenge came, and was accepted, to light as soon as I could provide myself with arms. I sent to Hardinsburg for a pair of pistols, said to be the best known. But T. had been there before me. One friend then jumped on a steamboat and went to Louisville, where he found a fine pair belonging to Mr. J. D. B. Another went to New Madrid, where he knew there was a pair which Burr had had on the field with Hamilton. Both pairs were obtained, and so good were they that I did not regret failing to obtain those in Hardinsburg. I now fixed the day for the fight, accepting at ten paces back to back, whirl and fire between the words, " fire " and "three," the seconds to count delib- erately one, two, three. T. objected to standing back to back, as he was lame and could not turn as quickly as I could. I then, waived that condition and agreed to stand face to face. He having the advantage of me in practice, I took time to make myself even with him, and .soon found that I was a first-rate marksman, and heard that he was the same. The victory then would fall to him who could shoot quickest; therefore my efforts were to learn to shoot quick. During the interim before fighting 1 was daily engaged with B. in settling up our business, and the evening before in making the final arrangements. B. remarked, it was strange to see a man writing his will, and making such arrange- ments while yet in good health. * * * * " The next day we were to meet at a designated point on the Indiana shore at eleven o'clock. "When about to embark to cross over. Judge H., one of my seconds ( each had two), asked me how I felt. I replied, ' Strangely indifferent; ' I can hardly realize that I am going to fight a duel.' ' But' said he, ' you must realize it, for there is but little time left now.' I then remarked, ' Before we go over, hang up a tape against that tree and let me try my hand.' Digitized by Microsoft® 90 HI8T0BT OF DAVIESS CODNTT. He objected, sajing, 'If joa make a bad shot it will affect yoar spirits.' ' No, ' I replied, ' it will not; hang it up.' It was done; at ten steps I took a shot and cut the tape about half an inch below the black spot. *That will do,' said he. "(Considering the probable dreadful result, to kill or be killed, many would say it argued great want of feeling to go about such a business so calmly. Butif the reader has ever been engaged in a duel, if he has had time for reflection before it occurred, and his conscience is at rest as to having used every effort to avoid it, he will then see that the thing being inevitable, and his own safety depending on his shooting his adversary, no question arises in his mind wliich [of the two to choose. Persons may say that they would as soon be shot as to shoot an adversary. That was not my case; I very much preferred to shoot my adversary. And it was important to my success in doing so, that the awful responsibility of the act should be shut out from my mind as much as possible. I would not think of it but in one way, that it was necessary to my own safety. 1 had no feeling of revenge to gratify, and when I went upon the ground I had no more animosity against Thomp- son than against any other man on the ground. When we took our positions and were asked if we were ready, I answerd, 'No.' I wished to see if my nerves were steady and took aim at a lump of snow on a wood-pile. Although there was snow upon the ground, and it was dead of winter, — February, — yet I felt a warm glow and a suppleness of nerve which was extraordinary. If Providence would take part with either party in a matter like this, I should think I had his support, for never was my touch so sensitive, my flesh so pliable, nor my aim so quick and accurate as at this lump of snow. I felt as though I could put my ball just where I pleased; and unfortunately for Thompson there was a grease spot very vis- ible just where I wished to aim. "Being satisfied witli my aim, I turned to the second, who had asked if we were ready, and said, 'Now I am ready.' Thompson was asked if he wasjeady, and answering 'yes,' the word fire was given. Our fires were almost simultaneous, mine a little first. For a moment Thompson stood erect, and, although ray aim was good, I began to tliink I must have missed him. But presently a black scowl cairie over his countenance, he threw Iiis pistol on the ground befoi-c him and.baid, ' I am a dead man! ' Now, all the feelings which liad been strained up were relaxed, and my first impulse was to go to his aid. But as I advanced, his second, Mr. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COTINTY. 91 G. called to me to keep my post; that Mr. Thompson might wish another fire. I returned, but in a few moments his other second, Judge C. called out that Mr. Thompson was satisfied; he would be unable to take another fire. My ball had entered just under his right nipple, passed through his body, and lodged in his left arm without breaking the skin except where it entered. It was not supposed he could live twenty-four hours. But he did, and finally recovered; and although at first, for some time, we were not friendly, yet ultimately we made up and were good friends. And what was singular, this shot cured him of a chronic rheumatism of ten years' standing, and of his lameness. He said I was a first-' rate surgeon, though rather a rough operator. Thompson was a singular man, one of violent passions; sorry for it when the passion was over, and used to tell his friends that he could not control himself, and that he was certain he would some day be killed, — a correct prediction, for he was afterward killed in the streets of Owensboro in 1863, by a man whom he had attacked. He was a man of fine talents and fine qualities, away from his ungovernable pas- sions. The man who killed him was a workman for a carpenter, not particularly sensitive; but the event so preyed upon his conscience that he gradually pined away and died in about a year after with no complaint but remorse. " This put an end to the distilling business. Both distilleries soon went to wreck, and a large sum of money was entirely sunk. Mr. Triplett felt some consolation in the refiection that, if they had been engaged in the abominable business, they had lost enough to punish them for the sin, and that their account with Heaven was nearly balanced; but at that time it was not considered a discreditable business. They now made arrangements for a tremendous business in coal, and so brilliant seemed the prospect that the loss by the distilleries seemed but a trifie. They turned into building boats at their steam- mill, turning out one a week, contracted with other mills to build all they could, and various points were all alive building boats for them. They were in high spirits, imagining they were making from $150 to $200 a day. But an event occurred to blast their prospects, as unexpected as would have been an earthquake to sink all their coal mines, namely, a frost, which destroyed the sugar- cane after it had ripened — an event that had not occurred before for twenty years. "When, however, by great efforts the evil caused by this misfort- une seemed to be remedied by finding a market among the tow- Digitized by Microsoft® 92 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. boats, and they again renewed their shipments, a belief that the heat of the coal caused the boilers to burn out induced the tow- boats to abandon it; and here was a second great disaster which almost prostrated them, and which it was beyond the power of man to foresee. Determined to die with their colors flying, how- ever, and believing that they need not fear another frost, and that the idea of burning out the boilers would be deemed nonsensical by the next season, they made another struggle and shipped a con- siderable quantity. But the planters would not buy, and captains of ships would not employ tow-boats which burned coal because the smoke blackened their sails. They were now effectually done for and dissolved partnership. After this Mr. Triplett went to his original business and rapidly recovered the ground he had lost, but the proceeds had to go to pay dues on his own and the firm's lands; ultimately he began to emerge, and with most of the property with which he started. He next went into a Texas speculation with an apparent profit of over $90,000, which induced him to make a purchase amount- ing to 20,000 acres; and the Government of Texas, failing to carry out its contract, again involved him in embarrassments from which it took a long time to recover. After a long struggle, however, his prospects began to brighten. Indeed, they seemed so flattering that he ventured to purchase a tract of land alongside of Bonharbor, which he wanted in order to command the whole coal field there. For this he gave $20,000, and cramped himself to make the first payment, confident that he would soon be in ample resources and easy again. But in this he was mistaken. Fortune was not yet tired of her pranks with him. Every thing went wrong with him- He became reckless, and his creditors concluded he was going to ruin. They sued him from all quarters, sold his property, until nearly every lot in Owensboro was gone, and he had owned more than half of the vacant property in the town. According to the laws of Kentucky, if land sold under execution does not bring two thirds its value, it may be redeemed in twelve months by paying ten per cent, per annum interest on the amount of sale. Mr. Trip- lett managed to redeem the lots which had been ■ sold. At a sub- sequent period he sold Haphazard for $13,000, 1,000 acres of the best land in the county, on the Ohio Eiver, one and a half miles from Owensboro, the mere buildings on which were worth more than half the money. In 1842 the tarifl" was raised, and an energetic impulse was given to the manufacturing business. Mr. Triplett owned the Bonharbor Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 93 coal mines and 2,000 acres of land, beginning about two miles below Owensboro, possessing great advantages for manufacturing. He built a small woolen factory for jeans and linseys, and after- ward pnrcliased cotton machinery to manufacture their warps. He attracted the custom of steamboats for his coal and with good suc- cess. He owned a vast amount of property in various portions of the State, some of which he sold to advantage, and ultimately reached a point of independence. Robert Triplett died in Philadelphia, in 1853, with cancer in the face. He had nine children. His oldest daughter, Ann, married J. Andrew White, of Petersburg, Va., and soon afterward died. Emily married Honorable George H. Yeaman, now of New York City. Virginia died a few years ago, unmarried. The oldest son, Eobert, Jr., died at the age of about twenty-one, in January, 1852, of erysipelas. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER IV. ORGANIC, LEGAL AND POLITICAL. Under tlie above caption we classify such historical matters as relate to the organization oi' the county, the officers and representa- tives of the count}', political notes, election returns, the courts, and the bar. In the next chapter we give biographical sketches of the more prominent public men of the county, both of the past and of the present. As tlie public records are not complete in all departments, and the memory of the "oldest inhabitant" not quite able to give names and dates for every period back to the year one, there are a few blanks in some of the lists which we are not able to supply. OEIGIN OF THK COHNTY AND OF ITS NAME. Previous to 1780, Kentuckj' was a county of Virginia. In May this year it was divided into three counties — Jefferson, Fayette, and Lincoln; in 178i N"el8on Countj' was formed out of Jefferson; in 1792, after Kentucky became a State, Hardin was formed frort Nelson County; in 1798 Ohio was formed from Hardin; in 1815 Daviess was formed out of Ohio; and in 1864 McLean County was formed from portions of Daviess, Muhlenburg and Ohio. Pre- vious to the latter date Daviess County extended south to Green River. At one time a small strip, containing about 150 settlers, was transferred from Ohio County to Daviess; in 1829 a piece was taken from Oaviess in the formation of Hancock County; and about iS57 tlie western line of this county was moved about four miles down tlie river. The following act, creating the county of Daviess, was approved January 14, 1815: CuAi'TER 0X0.^ — An Act for the erection of a new county out of the county „,.„.-d James Rudy, S. R 2030 \ e^ectea. E. S. Worthington.gbk 241 Eugene O'Flynn, gbk 396 Constitutional Convention. For 667 587 Against 80 Local Option or License. For 340 Againit 588 248 ELECTION, AUG. 3, 1880. Circuit Judge. Lucius P. Little, dem 2869 1065 James Stuart, ind 1604 Commonwealth's Attorney. Joseph Noe, dem 3159 Josepli Haycraft, dem 2048 Circuit Clerk. F. F. Conway 8358 111 Ed. C. Davis. .3368 Surveyor. E. Edwards 2911 ELECTION, AUG. 1, 1881. State Treasurer. J. W.Tate 1457 Senator. J. A. Munday 1571 Representatives. Geo. V. Triplett, dem 1529 J. H.Rudy, dem 1554 Both elected. Sheriff. A. B.Miller, dem 1133 Coroner. P.W.Clark 460 94 G. W. Mathis 436 J. B. Whelan 310 ELECTION, AUG. 7, 1882. Judge of Superior Court. J. H. Bowden, dem 2146 Appellate Cleri. Thos. J Henry, S. R., 2013 1610 R. T. Jacob, S. R 403 County Judge. H. W. Scott, dem 2263 County Attorney. Martin Yewell, dem 2327 County Clerk. M. S. Mattingly, dem 2306 Digitized by Microsoft® HI8T0E1 OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 105 Sheriff. A. B. Miller, dem 1937 1352 J. J. Christian, rep 575 Surveyor. E. Edwards, dem 2353 Ooroner. Geo. M. Hayden 3210 Aiienor. G. A. Allgood 2385 School Tax. For 607 Against 1907 OFFICIALS. The following embraces the persons who have filled the various official positions in connection with the government and organiza- tion of the county : JUDGES OF THE OrBOUlT COrTET. Henry P. Broadnax 1815-'2 Alney McLean 1822-'4 John Calhoon 1842-'5 John P. Devereux 1851 Jesse W. Kincheloe 1851-'56 James Stuart 1856-'67 James L. Johnson 1867 George W. Williams 1867-'70 Martin H. Gofer 1870-'74 James Stuart 1874-'80 Lucius P. Little 1880 Beside these, special judges were appointed at various times, among whom were John H. McHenry and Greorge H. Yeaman. OLEEKS OF THE CIEOUIT COTJKT. George Handley 1815-'27 Horace Allen 1827-'32 John S. McFarland 1832-'45 William B. "Wall 1845-'56 John P. Thompson 1856-'62 Ward Payne 1862 Joseph Thomas 1862-'68 M. L. Ogden 1868 John P. Thompson 1868-'72 Jo Thomas 1872 John G. McFarland 1872-'74 Frank F. Conway 1874 The first Clerk, George Handley, is still, or was recently, living at Hodginsville, Ky. He retained the position till April, 1827, when he resigned the duties of the office. Horace Allen, who had previously acted as Deputy, became Clerk. Allen died while in office, and was succeeded by John S. McFarland, who resigned the position October, 1845. John' P. Thompson also died while serv- ing as Clerk." commonwealth's atioenbts. Henry Davidge John H. McHenry 1831 Alfred Allen 1841-'51 B. Hardin Helm 1856 Cicero Maxwell 1858 John Chapeze 1862 Baker Boyd 1868 Jo Haycraft 1874 Joseph Noe 1880 Digitized by Microsoft® •106 HISTOEY 01' DAVIESS COUNTY. ailEEIKFS OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Cliarles Y. Duncan 18Lj-'21 Williiim Glenn 1831-28 Jolm Piles 182H-'-35 Rcraus Griffith lWr,-'37 J. Leman 1837-'39 Warner Crow 1839-'31 John Daveiss 1831-03 R. C. Jett 1833-'35 S. Hawes 1835-'37 E. McCreery 1837-'38 R. C. Jett 1838-'39 William Newton 1839-'41 William B. Baird 1841 Joseph M. Potts 1841-'43 John G. Howard 1843-'45 Henry Dui;au 1 845'-47 Abiiei- Lee 1847-'49 C. D. Ja.kson 1849-'51 Thomas Landrnm 1851-'55 Joscjib G. Harrison 1855-'59 John Loclie 1859-'63 Joseph G. Harrison 1863-'G6 W. H. Perkins 1866-'C8 H. W. Scott 1868-72 W. H. Perkins 1873-'74 H. W. Scott., 1874-'76 J. H. Gates 1876-'78 Ed. C. Davis 1878-'82 A. B. Miller 1882 COUNTY SUBVEYOKS. James W. Johnson 1815-'33 Rich. F. Bibb 18:<3-'34 Geo. W. Trjplett 1834-'50 S. D. Shepherd 1850-'54 R. R. Coomes 1854-'58 H. W. Scott 1858-68 I. W. Sutherland 1868-74 Robert Frey 1874 E. Turner 1874-'75 C. W. Gordon 1 875-'79 E. Edwards 1880 COUNTY JUDGES. Thos. W. Watkins 1850-'54 Geo. H. Yeaman 1854-'58 A. G. Bolts 1858-'66 Geo. W. Triplett, elected. . 1866'-70-'74 H.W.Scott 1879 COUNTY ATTOENEYS. John H.Todd Wm. N. Sweeney. . Henry Smith Dallam W- S. McFarland. Amos R. Taylor. . . C. Riley V. T. Crawford W .T. Ellis 1876-'80 Martin Yewell . . .1882 Joseph Noe 1882 COUNTY CLEEKS. Wm. R. Griffith 1815-'18 George Handley 1819-28 Horace Allen 1829-30 J. S. MoFailand • . .1831 Wm. B. Wall 1851-'56 Graham Hughes 18r)6-'58 James B. Watkins 1858-60 Jesse Moore 1862 M. L. Ogden 1860 John O'Brien 1882 Thos. C. Jones ,1866-'74 M. 8. Mattingly .1872 SENATORS. 1819-'23 John Handley (died in 1816). ..1814 Beuj. Duncan 1817 James Hillyer 1818 James Johnston ) N. D. Anderson. . j Benj. Duncan I wono .n, Robert Stephens \ ^^^^- ^^ Wm. R. Griffith ]831-'35 Anselm Watkins 1835-'39 Wm. R Griffith 1839-'43 Fiancis Peyton 1843- '47 Geo. W. Triplett 1849 Camden Riley 1850 John G. McFarland 1851-'53 John S. McFarland 1853-'57 A. D.Cosby 1857-'61 Wm. Anthony 1861-'65 Edwin Hawes 1869-'78 Geo. W. Swoope 1873-'77 C. Griffith 1877.'81 J. A. Munday 1881-'85 Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOtTNTT. 107 EEPKE8ENTATIVB8. Benj. Duncan 1816 Wm. Glenn 1817 Benj. Duncan 1818-'19 Warner Crow 1820 John Roberts 1823 Phil. Triplett •. . . . 1824 Nestor Clny 1825 John S. McFarland 1820 John Boberts 1827 James W. Johnson 1828 Wm. R. Griffith 1829 Simpson Stout 1830 John Roberts 1831 Richard Lockhart 1833 John B. Hinton 1833 Wm. T. Sharpe 1834 Wm. R. Griffith 1835 Robert Griffith 1836 Wm. Anthony • 1887 Wm. Newton 1838 Warner Crow 1839 George W. Triplett 1840-'41 Warner Crow 1843-'43 James L. Johnson 1844 Camden Riley 1845 John P. Devereux 1846 Finley W. Wall 1847 John H. McFarland 1..848 Ben. Johnson 1849 John S. McFarland 1850.'51 A. D. Co-by 1851.'53 Daniel M. Griffith 1853-'55 Andrew Jones 1855-'57 Francis M. Dailey 1857-'59 John G. McFarland 1859-'61 Geo. H. Ycaman 1861-'62 John S. McFarland 1862.'e5 Josiah Vee-'^ 1865-'67 John W. Mo..eley 1867-'69 Clinton Griffith. . . 1869'.'73 Ben Stout 1873-'75 W. J. Taylor 187.5-'77 J. G. Ford 1875-77 C K. Tharp 1877-'79 A. Cravcroft 1877-'79 R. W. McFarland 1879-'81 James H. Rudy 1879-'80 Geo. V. Triplett 1881-'83 James H. Rudy 1881-'83 In 1788, when this portion of Kentucky was Nelson County, it was represented by John Steele and Matthew Walton, in the con- vention which ratified the present Constitution of the United States. Of the earliest justices of the peace, we mention the names of John Calhoon, an eminent lawyer and great man; John Daveiss, who was acting in 1818; and Warner Crow, who had the office at least from 1818 to 1823. THE COURTS. Circuit Court. — The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit (or District) was erected by the Legislature of 1821, and comprised the counties of Mnhienburg, Hopkins, Union, Henderson, Daviess, Brecken- ridge and Ohio. Although this county is not actually named in the law, it was doubtless contained in the above district. 1 Litt. Laws, 400. By Morehead & Brown's Digest of 1834, the Fourteenth Dis- trict was made to comprise Mnhienburg, Butler, Ohio, Daviess. Breckenridge and Hancock counties. By the Revised Statutes of 1852 the Third District was created with the following counties: Breckenridge, Hancock, Daviess, Muhlenbnrg, Ohio, Grayson, Meade, LaRue and Hardin. Digitized by Microsoft® 108 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. By act of 1856 the Third District comprised Breckenridge, Han- cock, Daviess, McLean, Ohio, Grayson, Meade, LaRue and Hardin By act of 1868 the Fifth Judicial District was created thus: Breckenridge, Hancock, Daviess, Ohio, Grayson, Hardin, Meade. By act of 1880, the Fourth Circuit was made to consist of Han- cock, Daviess, Ohio and McLean counties. All the above may be very neatly tabulated as follows: COUNTIES. Muhlenburg. . Hopkins Union Henderson. . . Breckenridge . Ohio Butler Hancock Meade Grayson LaRue Hardin McLean Daviess 1821. 1834. 1853 1856. 1868. 1880. 14th. 14th. 3d. 5th. 4th. 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 At present the Circuit Court for Daviess County convenes the first Monday in March and September and the third Monday in January and July. Lucius P. Little is the present Judge. For a complete list of the circuit judges, see a preceding page in this chapter. Tho January and July terms are Criminal Courts. From 1875 to 1880 there were two judges, — a criminal and a circuit. John Allen Murray was the Criminal Judge and James Stuart the "Circuit" or "Civil." The records of this court are complete from the organization of the county in 1815 to the present time. As a matter of interest and curiosity in this historical work we will copy the first proceed- ings of this body : " At a Circuit Court began and held for the county and circuit of Daviess at the house of Thomas Moseley, Sr., at the Yellow Banks in said county on Monday, the 9th day of October, 1815, and in the twenty-fourth year of the Commonwealth, were present the Hon. Henry P. Broadnax; George Calhoon and Anthony Thompson, Esquires. "The court proceeded to the appointment of a clerk, a majority concurring therein, and to appoint George Handley, Clerk of the Court, he having produced to the court a certificate from the Hon. John Boyle, "William Cogan and "William Owsley, Judges of the Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 109 Court of Appeals, and attested by Achilles Sweet, Esq., their clerk, certifying that he, the said George Handley, has been exam- ined bv their clerk in their nresence and under their direction, and that they deem him well qualified to discharge the duties of clerk to any County Court, Circuit Court, or court of equal dignity within this Commonwealth. " And thereupon the said George Handley took the oath required by the Federal Constitution, the oath required by the Constitution of this State, the oath of oflBce, and the dueling oath, — which oaths were administered to him by this court, and entered into bond in the penalty of $10,000 with Joseph Allen, Benj. Duncan, An- thony Thompson, Charles Y. Duncan and William E. Griflith, his securities, and which bond is in words and figures following, to wit: " Know all men by these presents, That we, George Handley, Joseph Allen, Benjamin Duncan, Anthony Thompson, Charles Y. Duncan and William R. Griffith, are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of $10,000, cur- rent money, and for the payment whereof we bind ourselves, our heirs, etc., jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals, and dated this 9th day of October, 1815. " The condition of the above obligation is, that if the above bound George Handley, who has this day been appointed clerk of the Cir- cuit Court of Daviess Couii!;', shall truly and faithfully discharge the duties of said office according to law, then the above obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and value. Geobgb' Handley, [skal.] Jo. Allen, [seal.] Executed in the presence of Benj. Duncan, [seal.] Heney p. Beoadnax, Judge!''' Charles Y. Duncan, [seal.] Anthony Thompson, [seal.] Wm. R. Geiffith. [seal.] federal judicial district. As early as 1868 a movement was set on foot for sccui-itig the establishment at Owensboro of the seat of a new Federal Judicial District. In the following winter a bill was introduced in Con- gress for the creation of an additional district for Kentucky, and Owensboro, Paducah and Bowling Green became competing points for the hea(^»arters. In February, 1880, the friends of Owensboro prepared an elabo- Digitized by Microsoft® 110 UISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. rate memorial to Congress, settincr forth the arguments in favor of establishing a Federal Court here. A bill was accordingly intro- duced appropriating $50,000 for the erection of public buildings and the purchase of a suitable site in Ovvensboro, and vigorously advocated by Ploti. J. A. MoKenzie, from tliis district. But Con- gress adjourned, June 16, without taking action on the bill. In December, 1880, a petition was signed by fifty prominent citizens, requesting the Owensboro City Council to appropriate $200 or more to defray the expenses of two or more influential citizens to Washington to aid in securing the passage of that bill, or a similar one. J. A. Manday and J. Z. Moore were selected to attend to this errand; but the bill is still pending. The bill pro- vides for a building which shall serve both as a Federal Court building and a custom-house. Appellate Court. — The Fourth Appellate District of Kentucky embraces the counties of Ballard, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Crit- tenden, Christian, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Grayson, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Lo- gan, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenburg, Ohio, Simpson, Trigg, Todd, Union, Warren and Webster. COUNTY COURTS. The county judge is the presiding judge of the County Court, which is held the third Monday of each month. In October of each year the justices sit with him, for the purpose of making the county levy and appropriations from the county funds. Sitting alone, the county judge has jurisdiction of matters of probate, ap- pointment of guardians, granting licenses, supervision of all the public roads in the county, etc. On the first Monday of February, May, August and November, the county judge holds a quarterly court, in which he exercises civil jurisdiction in cases where the claims do not exceed $200. The above system was inaugurated with the present Constitution, in 1850. Before that time the justices held the County Courts which were presided over by the senior justice. Justices and con- stables were appointed by the Governor. County Court. — This meets the third Monday of each month, 11. W. Scott, Judge; M. S. Mattingly, Clerk; Martin Yewell, County Attorney; A. B. Miller, Sheriff; Gideon AUgood, Assessor. Court of Chdms. — Meets the third Monday in October. H. W. Scott, Judge. This court is held to levy taxes, audit claims, etc Digitized by Microsoft® m^'IORV 111- DAVIKISS lluDNTY. Hi Qiinrtirly Court. — Tliis is held the first Monday in February, Mav, August !ind November. 11. W. Scott is the present Judge. Miygistratc's' Courts. — These are held in the respective precincts. Sec the precinct histories. Justices of the peace, or magistrates, and constables, are elected the first Saturday in May — -the justices for four 3'^eara and the constables for two years, their terms com- mencing on the first of June following. BAR ASSOCIATION. An association of the lawyers was organized In Owensboro, in 1879. W. T. Owen is President, and J. A. Deane, Secretary, and W. L. Burton, Treasurer. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER V. SKETCHES OF PUBLIC MEN. As more extended notices arc required of many of the officials of Daviess County, including State and Government officers and representatives who have resided within the li mits of this county, we devote a chapter to them; and as a miitter of convenience we wiil include all the members of the present bar, and many of the past, in our sketches, and follow an alphabetical arrangement. E. G. Adams, attorney at law and Justice of the Peace, is a son of Elisha and Artemeaia (West) Adams, and was born in Upper- town, Oct. 7, 18i9. He received a common-school education, and by close application was qualified to teach. In 1870 he went to Louisiana, but the climate did not agree with him and he returned after an absence of a year and settled on a farm in Lowertown. He taught school about a j^ear, and in 1873 managed his farm, hiring the labor. In 1878 he was elected Justice of the Peace for a term of four years, and in 1882 was re-elected. He was married April 15, 1869, to Mary Catherine, daughter of Richard C. and Sarah J. (Barrett) Fuqua. His wife died Aug. 16, 1879. They had three children — Mary Lou and Lou Ella, born Aug. 28, 1870, died in April, 1874; Helen Y., born July 28, 1878, is now living with Mr. Fuqua. After the death of his wife Mr. Adams moved into town and gives his attention to the duties of his office and the practice of his profession. He was admitted to the bar Jan. 20, 1883. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., K. of P., and I. O. G. T. He was also Master of Progressive Grange, and a member of the (bounty and State Grange. He has delivered lectures on temper- ance; at the last one he had his horse stolen. Mr. Adams is a member of Walnut Street Baptist Church, and was elected Deacon when twenty-six years of age. Gideon A. Allgood was born in Yadkin County, IST. C, Jan. 27, 1848. His father, James Allgood, was born in North Carolina, in 1811, and came to Daviess County in 1855, where he died March 10, 1860. His mother, Amelia (Hudspeath) Allgood, was born in North Carolina in 1812, and died in 1877, leaving four children — Nathan B., JmiuL., Fiza A. and Gideon. Mr. Allgood (113) Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 113 was reared on a farm, and went to school at intervals until twenty- four years of age. He is a single man. In 1872 he was elected Constable to till out the terra of Eobert Ellis, resigned. He served as Deputy Sheriff a year and a half, and as Deputy Assessor two years. In 1878 he was elected Assessor, and re-elected in 1882. He is a member of the Baptist church, and of Telvington Lodge No. 693, A. F. & A. M. Wra. Anthony, lawyer, was a member of the Legislature from this county during the war. He was learned, refined, able and witty. He stood firm on the side of the Union all through the war. As a lawyer he was of course shrewd and ready. He could with wonderful ease, yet perfect politeness, entrap any crooked wit- ness whom he might be called upon to examine. He died some years ago. J. D. Atchison, attorney at law and ex-County Superintendent of Schools was born in this county Dec. 31, 1852. His father, Austin Atchison, was born in Yirgiuia in 1807, and was of Scotch parentage. He was a farmer in good circumstances, until 1865, at which time he lost his slaves and other property. He died in 1875. Mr. Atchison's mother, Lucy (Moseley) Atchison, was a native of Kentucky and died in 1865. His parents were married in 1850. Owing to defective vision he did not learn to read until ten years of age, at which time he attended a county school one month, having procured a lens which enabled him to see sufficiently well to study. He was very small and sickly until six- teen years of age; he then again attended a county school. All of his leisure time had been spent in hard study, but a want of proper books was a great obstacle to his progress. A friend, E. H. Bryan, gave him great assistance in the sciences. In 1868 Prof. W. Alex- ander established Oakland Seminary, near the farm of Mr. Atchi- son's father, and at once took great interest in J. D., who was his pupil four years. He attended the school only during a part of the winter session, but took private lessons during the entire year. At the age of twenty Mr. Atchison borrowed money of his father, with which to buy suitable clothing, and started out to take care of himself. He went to Henderson County, where he was en- gaged nearly a year in teaching school, for which he was paid sixty dollars a month. With a part of this money he repaid his father, and 1' 3 remainder he spent in the pursuit of his studies at school, where^ he organized a club, and "ojched" at an expense not ex- ceedirg $1.25 per week. 8 Digitized by Microsoft® ll-l HISTOEY OF DAVIESS 00I7NTY. Iri IS 74 Mr. Atchison accepted a professorship in West Ken- tucky College, at South G'irroltoii, Kv., which position he held two years. He was thns again associated with his former precep- tor, Prof. Alexander, who held the first position in the school. "When quite young Mr. Atchison had determined to study law, and in 1876 he resigned his position in the school and commenced the course of study in his chosen profession. Partly from poverty, and ])artly from a fixed principle that every one ought to acquire knowledge by his own efforts, he determined not to enter a law school. He came to Owensboro, and in June, 1876, entered the law office of Hon. W. N. Sweeney, where he remained four years. He was admittea to tne bar in March, 1877, and in May, 1879, he was married to Miss Blanche Hermon, of Muhlenburg County, Ky., one of his former pupils. In 1880, when Judge James Stuart's term as Circuit Judge expired, he and Mr. Atchison formed a «o- partnership^ which still continues under the firm name of Stuart & Atchison. For a number of years Mr. Atchison was School Commissioner of Daviess County. S. C. Barrett is an attorney at law, resident at Whitesville. HoTi,. George M. Bibh. Although but a few years a resident of Daviess County, yet the prominence of Judge Bibb entitles him to a special notice in this chapter. He was born in Prince Edward County, Ya., Oct. 30, 1776, and was the son of Richard Bibb, an Episcopal clergyman of great learning. His earliest recollections were of the struggle for American Independence, which began at his birth. He was well educated, a graduate of Hampton Sydney and also of William and Mary Colleges, and in his 1 atter days was the oldest surviving graduate of each. Studying his profession with that distingiiished lawyer. Judge Yenable, he practiced in Virginia a short time, and removed to Lexington, Ky., in 1798, and was soon numbered among the ablest and soundest in a State already prominent for great lawyers. Jan. 31, 1808, he was ap- pointed one of the Judges of the Court of Appeals by Governor Greenup; and by Judge Scott, its Chief Justice, May 30, 1809, but resigned in March, 1810; and again, by Governor Desha, was appointed Chief Justice the second time Jan. 5, 1827, but resigned Dec. 23, 1828. Judge Bibb was twice elected to the U. S. Senate, — first in 1811, but resigned in 1814, and second in 1829, serving the full tern of six years. During the war of 18"! 3, he, in the Senate, and Wil iam Lowndes and Je C. Caltoun, of South Carolina, and Benry Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 115 Clay, in the IJ. S. House of Representatives, formed what was called the "War Mess" of the Madison administration — from having supported the war and the President with snch great talent, vigor and zeal. He settled in Frankfort in 1816. From 1835 to 1844 Judge Bibb held the important position of Chancellor of the Louisville Chancery Court, but resigned to become Secretary of the Tj'easury in the cabinet of his old colleague in the U. S. Senate, President Tyler, holding it to the close of his Presidential term. Thenceforward, until his death, April 14, 1859, he practiced law in the courts of the District of Commons, most of the time in the position of chief clerk in the department of the U. S. Attorney General, but really doing the duties now required of the Assistant Attorney General, an office established for the very labors per- formed by him. Judge Bibb was a profound scholar, and a great mathematician, as well as a most eminent jurist. He had an iron frame and an ardent tempt'rament; was capable of gi-eat endurance and labor, and liable to great bursts of indignation when roused. He married a daughter of General Charles Scott, who bore him twelve children. In 1832 he married again in Washington City, his second wife bearing him five children. His brother, Jolm B. Bibb, was a member of the Kentucky I,egislature, and in the State Senate lS30-'34. Judge Bibb died April 14, 1850, aged eighty- three years. Baker Boyd, born Aug. 9, 1836, in Shelby County, Ky. . is a son of William G. and Jane (Ligget) Boyd. Ills father was a native of Virginia, born Oct. 14, 1783, and moved to Sheli)y County. Ky., when nineteen j'ears of age. Ho was, Sheriff of Shelby County twenty years under the old Consti- tution. He represented his district in tiie State Lower House and Senate ten years. He was married three times. His first wife was Agnes Shannon, born Sept. 1, 1787. To them were born tliree children — Samuel L., born Sept. 4, 1806; Mehitai)lc, Feb. 1-'. 1808; Martha Ann, Oct. 39, 1n01». His second wile was Mary Newland, born April 18, 17^."'. They had two cliildrou- - William Wallace, horn April L'3, 1815, an.l Jolm ISTowland, J:ui, 23, 1817. His tliird wife was Mrs. .lane ', Ligget) Newhuid. Her first husband was AVilliam Newiand, rind to tlieui were born two children — lames L. and Ann Titaria. lOight .'.liiidicn were Ix/r'i to Mr. and Mrs. Boyd— George Wasiiingtoii, l„,iii Dee s, I -.-ju. mar ried Emily INLnre, of Balhud Conntv. Ky., and ii:;d i'.ixi in>iis-- Digitized by Microsoft® 116 HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOtlNTY. John, Ligwet and Henry; Celeste, born July 30, 1832, married Green Stewart, and had the following children: Wallace, Clarence, Digges, Boyd, Jolin, Charles, William, Jennie, Sallie, Celeste; Columbus, born Dec. 12, 1824, married William 11. Digges, Sept. 4, 1846, and had one son, William H. ; Christopher C, bcwn Sept. 6, 1826; Robert L., born Sept. 18, 1828, married Margaret Mc- Clarty, and had four children — J. Allen, Charles L., Henry D. and Mary L.; Jane, born Sept. 17, 1828, married James L. McClure, and had five children— Ligget, Logan, William, Jennie and James; Henry C, born Ang. 14, 1833, died Sept. 11, 1864; Baker, subject of this sketch. William G. Boyd moved to Hancock County and lived about thirty years. In 1860 he moved to Breckenridge County, where he died in 1863. When about twenty years old. Baker Boyd entered the county and circuit clerk's office of Brecken- ridge County, under Joe Allen, Clerk of the county, and remained there two years. He began studying law with Ben Munroe, United States Judge of the State of Kentucky, who was at the same time teaching a law school in Frankfort. After studying a year he was licensed to practice by two judges of the Court of Appeals, and established himself at Hawesville, Ky. Eight months later, in 1860, he removed to Blandville, where he remained till the break- ing oat of the war. In 1861 he went to Camp Cheatam, near lifashville, and joined Company A, First Tennessee Regiment, Eock City Guards. After the battle of Perryville he was promoted to Third Lieutenant and then First Lieutenant of his company. Dur- ing the war he was transferred to Company B, Seventh Kentucky Reo-iment, being First Lieutenant of the company. At the battle of Nashville he was captured by the Federal forces, and tlie follow- ing day taken to Johnson Island, across Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, and confined till the close of the war. He then returned to Hawes- ville and remained about a year, when he moved to Hardinsburg and formed a partnership witli Alfred H. Payton, and continued in practice there till August, 1868, when he was elected Common- wealth Attorney for the Fourth District, comprising the counties of Hardin, Meade, Grayson, Breckenridge, Hancock, Ohio and Daviess, which position he held six years. In 1868 he moved to Owensboro. He was married in October, 1868,to Celia V., daugh- ter of Thomas M. and Penelope (McFarland) Barron. Her mother was a daughter of John H. McFarland. Her father was a native of Virginia, and died in Daviess County in 1867. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS (JOUNTV. 117 Henry P- Broadnax, the first Circuit Judge, 1815-'22, was an upright and impartial judge, and one of the most remarkable men of his day. During the last year or two of his judgeship, his sal- ary was paid in about $600 or $800 worth of corn. Those were "the primitive and honest days of the Kepublic. " The judge used to wear short breeches, with knee Duckies, and plaited hair, tucked with a comb. W. Lindsea Burton, attorney and counselor at law, is a native of Daviess County, and is now practicing his profession in Owens- boro. He is a well-educated. Christian gentleman, a strong advo- cate of temperance, and no lover of card-playing or novel-reading. His maxims of life, of his profession, and of liberal education are of the highest order. John Calhoon was a prominent lawyer, a Circuit Judge, and a member of Congress. He was far superior to any other man of his time in this part of the country. Wilfred Carioo is an attorney. Ofiice in Court Eow. He also is a native of this county, and has passed all hJF life here. W. W. Chambers is a member of the Daviess County bar and a resident of Owensboro. Colonel Martin Hardin Cofer was born in Hardin County, Ky., April 1, 1832. He was raised on a farm, and his education was such as the common schools of that day afforded. Early in life he determined to enter the profession of law. He was married in 1853, and shortly afterward removed to Illinois, where he resided three years. He studied his profession when not engaged in active business, and at the age of twenty-four was licensed by the Su- preme Court of that State to practice. He commenced his labors atElizabethtown, Ky., and acquitted himself wellin his first efforts. He made steady progress, and at the beginning of the civil war had a very large practice. In 1860 a military company was organized at Elizabeth town, and he was chosen its Captain. During this year he was the Southern Eights candidate for the Lower House of the Legislature, having openly avowed his principles and determined to stand by them. His competitor, Hon. B. E. Young, who had been a member of Congress, was a man of ability and great popularity. Colonel Cofer and Dr. Young entered upon the can- vass in July, and after an exciting contest, the Union candidate was elected Ly'a majority of only ninety votes. His next step was to enter tiie Confederate service. He was authorized, in connection witli ]\r:ijur Thomas Hays, to raise a battalion of six companies, of Digitized by Microsoft® 118 HisTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. which he was to be Lieutenant-Colonel. Only five companies were obtained, and in T^ovember these were consolidated with other companies that formed the Sixth Regiment. He was elected Lieu- tenant Colonel of this command, and took rank froii} the ; o November. He participated in every engagement of his regiment up to th 30th of August, 1864, except that of Murfreesboro, and was severely wounded at Shiloh. He was promoted to Colonel Sept. 30, 1863. The day before the first battle of Jonesboro he was made Provost Marshal General of the Army of Tennessee. Colonel Gofer was a man of excellent judgment; was rarely known to draw a conclusion from a false premise, and in all his relations has maintained hmself as an honest, upright gentleman. Frank !< . Conway, the present Circuit Clerk, is a native of Yir- ginia, born Nov. 22, 1837. "When he was eleven years of age his father died, and he was sent to New Albany and educated. In 1859 he graduated in medicine at Louisville, and began practice as a phy- sician at Oakford, this county; but in the course of fourteen years his health failed, and he relinquished his profession, since which time he has been the popular and efficient Circuit Clerk of Daviess County. His first vote for President was for John C. Erecken- ridge. Hon. A. D. Cosby was a Representative to the Legislature 1851-'3, and Senator 1857-'61. Y. T. Crawford., in 1868 (and possibly other years), had an oflice in Court Row, as a lawyer. Thomas Alexander Craycroft was born in Washington County, Ky., Jan. 8, 1833; reared in Meade County, and completed a course of study in the English branches at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's colleges in this State. He afterward taught school awhile and read law, and graduated at the Louisville Law School in the spring of 1868. He located at Lebanon, Ky., where he was elected County Attorney and served two years. In February, 1860, he opened a law ofiice in Paraclifta, Ark., and practiced till the close of the war. "While there he was elected Commonwealth's Attorney and recruiting officer for the Southern array. In 1860 he was Assistant Douglas Elector for Arkansas. In May, 1866, he came to Owensboro, where he has resided ever since, in the practice of kw. Was four years City Judge, and was member of the Legislature one term — 1877-'8. In 1881, in part- nership with Geo. V. Triplett, he established the Saturday Post, and continued as one of the editors and proprietors until January, Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 119 1883. His editorial ability ia of a high degree. His tastes, indeed, incline him more to literature and politics than to law. In politics he is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and is opposed alike to abolitionism and secession ism. Judge Oraycroft was first married in January, 1857, to Miss Lucy Hopkins, of Owensboro. In May, 1860, he married Mrs. Mary Graves, of Marion County, Ky. His children are Benjamin and Lucy — both by his second wife. Warner Crow, Sheriff 1829-'31, was one of the oldest settlers of Daviess County, and is the father of Joshua G. Cr-.w, a well-known citizen of Murray Precinct. See sketch in the history of that pre- cinct. Samuel R. Crumbaugh, Collector for the Second Internal Reve- nue District of Kentucky, is now temporarily a resident of Owens- boro, having his principal oflBce near the northeast corner of the public square. [This is Owensboro's present custom-house. J His distiict comprises thirty-two counties. He is a native of this State; graduated at the Military Academy at Annapolis, Md.; spent two years in scientific studies in London, Eng., and several years as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, the last two in the col- lege at Hopkinsville. He is a tall, soldierly looking gentleman, with a massivechest and square shoulders, and carries himself very erect. He wears a heavy mustache and goatee, and is probably thirty -five or forty years of age. A few years ago he married a very wealthy woman at Elkton, and afterward moved to Hopkinsville, where he has a handsome residence. He is a rising politician, and at present the Reptfblicans talk of placing him at the head of the State ticket at the next election. John Daveisa, Sheriff 1831-'3, was the brother of the next men- tioned. Colcmel Josejyh, Hamilton Daveiss or ''Jo Daveiss," as he was popularly known , who gave his name to Daviess County, was one of the most remarkable men of his day. He was born in Bedford County, Va., March 4, 1774. His parents were natives of Virginia; his father of Irish, and his mother of Scotch, descent. "When young Daveiss was five years old the family removed to Kentucky, then an almost unbroken wilderness, and settled in the immediate vicinity of the town of Danville, then in Lincoln County. An incident, which occurred in the journey to Kentucky, illus- trates the character of his mother. In crossing the Cumberland River, Mrs. Daveiss was thrown from her horse, and had her arm Digitized by Microsoft® 120 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COITNTY. broken. The party only halted long enough to have the limb bound up, with what rude skill the men possessed, and pursued their route, she riding a spirited horse and carrying her child, and never ceasing her exertions to promote the comfort of her com- panions when they stopped for rest and refreshment. Daveiss was sent to school as occasion allowed. He attended grammar schools taught by a Mr. Morley, and a Dr. Brooks, and made considerable advances in a knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages. At school he evinced unusual capacity, always being at the head of his class. He was particularly remarkable for his talent for decla- mation and public speaking. The sudden death of a brother and sister recalled him from school, and he returned home to assist his father in the labors of the farm. There is a tradition that young Daveiss was not particularly distinguished by his devotion to agricultural pursuits, frequently permitting the horses of his plow to graze at leisure, in a most unfarmer-like way, while he, stretched supinely on his back on some luxurious log, indulged in those delicious dreams and reveries so sweet to young and aspiring ambition. In the autumn of 1792 Major Adair, under Government orders, raised some companies of mounted men, to guard the transpor- tation of provisions to tlie forts north of the Ohio River. Daveiss, then in his eighteenth vear, volunteered in the service. On one occasion, when Major Adair was'encamped near Fort St. Clair, he was surprised early in the morning by a large body of Indians, whoj rushing into the camp just after the sentinels had been withdrawn from their posts, killed and wounded fourteen or fifteen of the men, and captured and carried away about 200 head of horses. These were taken within the Indian lines and tied. After the whites had sought shelter in the neighborhood of the fort, young Daveiss, dis- covering his own horse at some distance hitched to a tree, resolved to have him at all hazards. He accordingly ran and cut him loose, and led him back to his companions amid a shower of balls. This exploit nearly cost him his life. A ball passed through his coat, waistcoat, and cut off a small piece of his shirt. His horse was the only one taken out of the 200. When his time of service ex- pired, he returned liome, and spent some time reviewing his clas- sical studies. He ultimately concluded to study law, and entered he office o the celebrated George Nicholas, then the first lawyer in Kentucky. Daveiss entered a class of students, consisting of Isliam Talbot, Jesse Bledsoe, "William Garrard, Felix Grundy, William Blackbourne, John Pope, William Stuart, and Thomas Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAYIE8S COUNTY. 121 Dye Owings, all fof whom became distinguished at the bar, and noted in the public history of the country. Nicholas was pro- foundly impressed with the striking indications of genius of a high order manifested by Daveiss while under his roof. His opinion of the strength of his character and the firmness of his principles was equally as exalted, and at his death, which occurred a few years after, he appointed him one of his executors. As a student he was laborious and indefatigable. He accustomed himself to take repose on a hard bed; was fond of exercise in the open air, and was accustomed to retire to the woods with his books, and pursue his studies in some remote secluded spot, secure /rom the annoy- ance and interruption ot society. In connection with his legal studies, he read history and miscellaneous literature. His mind, therefore, when he came to the bar, was richly stored with various and profound knowledge, imparting a fertility and affluence to his resources, from which his powerful and well-trained intellect drew inexhaustible supplies. He began the practice of the law in June, of the year 1795. The following August he was qualified as an attorney in the Court of Appeals. In his first case he had for an antagonist his old preceptor, over whom he enjoyed the singular gratification of obtaining a signal triumph. Daveiss settled at Danville, and soon commanded a splendid business in all the courts in which he practiced. On the abolition of the District Courts and the substitution in their place of the Circuit Court, he removed to Frankfort. He had been appointed United States Attorney for the State of Kentucky. In the year 1801 or 1802, he visited Wash- ington City, being the first Western lawyer who ever appeared in the Supreme Court of the United States. He here argued the cele- brated case of Wilson versus Mason. His speech is said to have ex- cited the highest admiration of the bench and bar, and placed him at once in the foremost rank of his profession. During this trip he visited the principal cities of the North and East, and formed an acquaintance with many of the most distin- guished men of America. In 1803 he was united in marriage to Anne Marshall, the sister of Joliii Marshall, the Chief Justice of the United States. Miss Marshall seems to have shared none of the qualities of her celebrated brother. After residing at Frank- fort for a few years, he removed tu Cornland, the farm on the Ohio a mile and a half above Owensboro. His residence here was a hewed log house, which is not now remaining. He lived here till 1809, and then removed to Lexington, where he resumed the practice of law. While acting as attorney for the United States, Digitized by Microsoft® 122 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. he acted as prosecutor against Aaron Burr in his famous trial ot treason. He had noticed tlie movements of this person for some time before the prosecution was begun. Satisfied from liis obser- vations that he had some unlawful design in view, he caused him to be apprehended and brought before the court. Burr's project was to revolutionize the Western country, establish an empire, with New Orleans as the capital, and himself the chief. July 24, 1806, General Dayton, one of Burr's firmest adherents, wrote to General Wilkinson in cipher, " Are you ready? Are your numerous asso- ciates ready? Wealth and glory! Louisiana and Mexico! ! " From a failure of evidence, as is well known, the prosecution was aban- doned, although the whole plot was finally discovered. In the fall of 1811, Colonel Daveiss joined the army of General Harrison in the campaign against the Indians on the Wabash. He received the command of major. On the 7th of November, 1811, in the celebrated battle of Tippecanoe, he fell in a charge against the Indians, made at his own- solicitation. He survived from 6 o'clock in the morning till midnight, retaining to the last the full com- mand of his faculties. The personal appearance of Jo Daveiss was commanding and impressive. His bearing was grave and dignified. His manner was bland and courteous to those he loved, but haughty and repulsive in the extreme to those he disliked. He was nearly six feet high, with a form athletic and vigorous. He was eccentric in his habits, allusion to which may be found else- where. At the great trial of Aaron Burr, at Eichmond, it is said he made his appearance in a suit of buckskin. As an orator he had few equals and no superiors. Competent judges unite in declar- ing that he was the most impressive speaker they ever heard. In conversation he was unequaled, and the life of every circle in which he was thrown. Dr. John D. Ogden, of Owensboro, has the original brief, in manuscript, which Jo. Daveiss prepared and presented in a land suit from this county, in 1805 or '6, before the Supreme Court of the United States. This was the first argument ever presented before that body by an attorney from any section west of the Allegheny Mountains. It is related that when the case was about to be called, Mr. Daveiss was present, dressed in buckskin, with a squirrel cap, and was eating a piece of ginger-cake. It was whispered among the high-toned gentry of the court that the rough little Westerner would be so ignorant of the Virginia rules of procedure that he would soon be frustrated. When the case came up he Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 123 Stepped forward and represented that he was the United States District Attorney for Kentucky. This was at first regarded merely as a joke; but during the whole course of the proceeding the only interruption made by the bench was simply to announce that the proposition which Mr. Daveiss was about to establish was already admitted by the court! John Allen Dean, formerly acting Commonwealth's Attorney, was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., Dec. 14, 1852; raised on a farm; graduated at Kentucky University at Lexington in June, 1874, and in the Law Department of the T.onisville Univer- sity in March, 1876, and opened an office over the Planters' Bank in Owensboro; had his office in several other buildings, and is now on St. Ann street, opposite the court-house. In 1878 he married a daughter of Dr. Josiah Hale. N. H. Decker was admitted to the bar here, but did not practice law in this circuit. He has been teaching public school in Waco, Texas, and is now following the profession of law. He is a prom- ising young man. John P. Devereux, Circuit Judge in 1851, went to Kansas City in 1859, entering the railroad business and becoming very promi- nent in the development of the "New West." In 1866 he removed to St. Louis, Ma., where he was commissioner of the land department of the Union Pacific Railroad Company until 1876 when he returned to Kansas City as the attorney of the company. In 1878 he moved to Denver, Col. Judge John P. Devereux came here from Virginia, married Miss Mason of this county, practiced as an attorney for a number of years, was Circuit Judge, and in went West, etc. He was a noble man, both in appearance and manners. WHMam T. JEMis, born in Daviess County, Ky., July 24, 1845, ■was a son of Luther L. and Mary M. (Kallam) Ellis, natives of Shelby and Daviess counties, Ky. His father died in March, 1855, and his mother in March, 1856, leaving two children — William T. and J. "W. Ellis, now of Masonville. William T. was reared and educated in Daviess County. Before he was sixteen years old he enlisted in the Confederate army, in the First Kentucky Cavalry; was mustered in Oct. 5, 1861, and served during the war, surren- dering April 21, 1865. At the close of the war he was a non- commissioned officer, in command of scouts. After the war he returned home and attended school the i-est of the year 1865 and 1866, working during vacation to pay his board and tuition. The Digitized by Microsoft® 124 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTT. latter part of 1865 and till the spring of 1867 he taught school near Whitesville in connection with his studies. During the years 1867-'69 he read law during his leisure time while engaged in teaching. In the spring of 1869 he received his license to practice law, and entered Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass. Re- turned home in the spring of 1870, and in August of that year was elected County Attorney of Daviess County, and re-elected in 1874. In 1876 he was Democratic elector for this district on the Tilden and Hendricks ticket. Feb. 11, 1871, be formed a partner- ship with William T. Owen, under the name of Owen & Ellis, which is now one of the prominent law firms of the county. Oct. 20, 1871, Mr. Ellis married Alice, daughter of C. R. Coffey, who died a little more than a year later. Nov. 2, 1876, he married Mattie B., daughter of Dr. W. F. Miller, of Louisville, Ky. George F. Ellis was born near Knottsville, Daviess Co., Ky., Nov. 11, 1856. "When he was four years of age his parents moved to Owensboro, where he was reared and educated. He attended the Kentucky University at Lexington three years, graduating in June, 1876. He returned to Owensboro and studied law during the summer with Owen & Ellis, teaching during the winter. He was admitted to the bar at the June term of 1880. In May, 1878, he married Josie Newton, a native of Carolina County, Ya., born July 1, 1861. They have one child— Muriel, born Jan. 23, 1882. Mr. Ellis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Joshua G. Ford, Representative to the Legislature 1875-'7, was editor of the Southern Shield. See chapter on the Press of Daviess County. Bolert Frey, attorney at law, office in the Savings Bank building, was County Surveyor in 1874. He is a young man of considerable energy. Clinton Griffith was a Representative to the Legislature for two terms, 1869-73. He is a wealthy farmer, living in the southern suburbs of Owensboro. William H. Griffith, deceased, was born Feb. 28, 1794, in Mary- land, and was brought, by emigration of the family, to Ohio County in 1805. He was the first County Clerk of Daviess, which office he held for many years; and he was widely esteemed for his many excellent traits, and possessed abilities of no common character. He recorded the first deed ever made in the county, which transfer was made June 12, 1815, of 100 acres of land, by Adam Jourdan to Moses Gwyn, for the consideration of $350. This tract of land Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COtTNTT. 125 is said to be still in cultivation, but has not enhanced much in value. He afterward studied law and was admitted to the bar. His practice was successful and his business, largely consisting in. land claims, was straightforward and reliable. In some portions of the latter business he was in partnership with Phil Triplett. Mr. G. was a Whig in his party aiSliations. He died in December, 1848; two of his children survive, — Daniel M. and Clinton, both well-known citizens of Owensboro, William M. Gri-ffith, grandson of the above, and son of Clinton Griffith, is an attorney at law, now practicing in Owensboro. Office, with Weir, Weir & Walker. T. B. Hardin, a native of Springfield, Washington Co., Ky., was an attorney at law in Owensboro from 1864 until 1872 or '3, in partnership with G. W. Kay, when he returned to Springfield, and is there now. He is probably over fifty years of age. Joseph Haycraft was born in Hardin County, Ky., where he received most of his education; studied law with Judge M. H. Cofer, and graduated in the Law Department of the Louisville University in 1861; was First Lieutenant in the Confederate army; practiced law with Judge Cofer at Brandenburg; was Common- wealth's Attorney 1875-'6; for the last four years he has been in Owensboro in partnership with JR. W. Slack. S. H. Haynes was a lawyer in Owensboro in 1868. Office, over the Deposit Bank. O. H. Haynes, attorney at law, is a native of this county, which has always been his home. He graduated at the Louisville Law School, and was admitted to the Bar in 1876. George F. Haynes, son of F. W. and Cassandra (Miller) Haynes, was born in Boston Precinct, Daviess Co., Ky., May 7, 1854. The parents of George F. were both natives of Ohio County, and were both descendants from Old Virginia, but settled in Kentucky at the beginning of the present century. F. W. Haynes came to Daviess County in 1836, and settled in the forks of Panther Creek, and in 1854 moved to Boston Precinct, where he engaged in farming, and at the time of his death owned a farm of more than 400 acres. George F. Haynes grew to maturity on the farm, and at the age of seventeen attended school at Horse Cave, in Heart County, Ky. In the fall of 1857 he began teaching a term of school, lasting five months. He continued teaching five months each year for four years. Dec. 31, 1877, Mr. Haynes came to Owensboro and entered the County Clerk's Digitized by Microsoft® 126 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. office, as deputy, serving in this capacity until 1880, when he re- ceived an appointment of Master Commissioner of Daviess County Circuit Court. For many generations the Hayneses have been strict adherents of the Baptist school of morals, and under this influence our subject was reared, having joined this church many years ago. Ben. Hardin Helm was the son of Governor John L. Helm, and was born in Hardin County, Ky.; graduated at the West Point Military Academy, and in the law department of the Louisville University; in 1855 was a member of the Legislature; in 1856, Commonwealth's Attorney for this Judicial District; married a daughter of E.S. Todd, of Lexington, Ky.; in 1861 he entered the Southern army as a Colonel and- was promoted Brigadier General. Sept. 20, 1863,'at the battle of Chickamauga, he was killed. Many testimonials were given of his patriotism, integrity and good judgment. He was buried in the Atlanta cemetery. Captain Samuel E. Hill, from Hartford, Ky., has just located in Owensboro, commencing in partnership with Colonel McHenry. The Hartford Herald speaks of him in the very highest terms. Christopher D. Jackson is one of the very few old settlers now living. He was born on the old Hartford and Bardstown road, nine miles north of Hartford^ in what is now Ohio County, Dec. 13, 1797. His father was Christopher D. Jackson, a native of Virginia, and was born in Prince William County and removed with his parents to Botetourt County, Ya., when four years old; then moved to Danville, Boyle Co., Ky., and then to Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky., then a fort. He was married here to Miss Catherine Ehodes. They were members of the Baptist church. They had a family of fourteen children; nine girls and three boys lived to be men and. women. Christopher D. was the third son and fifth child. He was reared on a farm near Hartford. He married Miss Camilla L. Shanks, jSTov. 1, 1827. She was born in Kentucky. About a month after his marriage in December, 1827, Mr. Jackson moved to Da- viess County, Ky., where he has since resided. At that time there were 625 whites and 518 blacks in the county over sixteen years old. Since that time a part of the county has been given to Mc- Lean and Hancock counties. Mr. Jackson had some 200 acres of land, and four negroes, one of which is still living with him. He also had some $1,200 and a team of horses. He first settled on a part, of his present farm in Mason ville Precinct, and has resided on this farm ever since. He and wife had four children — J. Han- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 127 ibal, died, aged one year and ten days; Josephine, died, aged nearly seventeen. James S. married Miss Susan Haws, a daughter of Albert Haws, who was elected three times to Congress from this district. James S. Jackson and wife liad five children, four living — Christopher, who married Anna Kroh; Adelle, married James Hickman, M. D., and resides in Owensboro; Albert G., married Laura Terrell; Nina is unmarried. Samuel Jackson died aged six years. Mrs. Jackson died in 1837. Mr. Jackson is now in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and is hale and hearty for a man of his age. He owns a fine farm of 3,000 acres in one tract where he re- Bides. He also owns 418 acres in Vanover Precinct and 100 acres in Knottsville Precinct. Mr. Jackson is the largest landholder in the county and the wealthiest man in the county. He is one of our self-made men; he is well read; he has a large library of bis own which contains many valuable books. He is a Mason and a member of the Sugar Grove Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Jackson gave the two acres of land on which the Sugar Grove cliurch is built. He has held the ofiSce of Justice of the Peace nineteen 3^ear s and was Sheriff of the county two years under the old State Consti- tution. His brother, Julius C. Jackson, was in the battle of New Orleans, war of 1812. His wife was a cousin of Senator Me- Creery. He has always been a strong siipy)orter of the Democratic party. He is of English, Irish and German descent; his great grandfather, Henry Rhodes, on his tuotho-'s side, came from Hol- land and settled with William Penn in Pennsylvania. His great grandfather on his father's side was Christopher Jackson, who was born in England, son of an English father mid French mother. He and two brothers came to A rnerica soim alter t)ie landing of the Pil- grims; Chistopher settled in Viri;inia, onein Maryland, and one in South Carolina. Mr. (/hristopher D. Jackson, father ot subject I'f our sketch, was a second cousin of old Hickory Jackson, President of the United States. Alfred B. Johnson, editor of the Owensboro Gazette, between 1852 and 1S56, was also a member of the bar. Jam,es L. Johnson, father of Philip T., was born in Livinirst-m County, Ky., Oct. 30, 1818. He secured a good edncation \i\ the common schools of that county, and in ls;;r. came to Owensb(>;H. He at first studied under the instrnctio'i of George Scarlifn-ong!!. an excellent teacher, now living at Vinelaiid, X. J.. mIi iso >:di'n)i was then the best in this part of the State. After <|nitting t^ciio:,'! he was employed -for two years in Ihe ofllee of Circuit and riniintv Digitized by Microsoft® 128 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Clerk, those positions then beinaj filled by John S. McFarland. While in the Clerk's office he be^an the study of law under the di- rection of Hon. Philip Triplett, one of the first and most distin- guished lawyers of Daviess County, and at that time a member ot Cono-ress. In 1841 Mr. Johnson was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in Owensboro, in connection with James Weir. The firm was successful in the practice of law, and Mr. J. at the same time took a prominent part in political affairs. He was a Whig and a warm admirer and supporter of Henry Clay. In 1844 he was elected to the Legislature;^ served one term and returned to Owensboro, where he resumed the practice of law. In the Presi- dential campaign of 1848 his name appeared on the electoral ticket. The following year he was elected to Congress for the Dis- trict in which Daviess County was embraced. He took his seat in December, 1849, and was thus a member of the celebrated Thirty-first Congress, or Compromise Congress, which passed the memorable compromise resolutions of Henry Clay, who was then a Senator from Kentucky. This Congress also has the reputation of being the longest ever held, not adjourning its session till Octo- ber, 1851. While serving his terra as member of Congress, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Harriette N. Triplett, the daughter of Philip Triplett, his old preceptor at law. On returning to Owensboro, Mr. Johnson again took up his profession. A few years subsequently- he gave up the active practice of law and de- voted his attention more closely to agricultural pursuits. During the late war he held Southern sentiments. In 1869 he received the appointment from the late Governor Thomas E. Eramlette, as Judge of the Judicial District in which Daviess County is included. He held this position for the unexpired term of Judge James Stuart. George W. Jolly, born in Breckenridge County, Ky., Feb. 22, 1843, is a son of John B. and Hachel (Hardin) Jolly, both natives of Kentucky. He was educated in Hardinsburg, Ky. , his tutor being Rev. E. Gr. Gardiner. He enlisted in the war of the Ke- bellion, serving in the Union army. He was licensed and admitted to the bar in 1867, and has since been actively engaged in his profession. He removed from Hardinsburg to Owensboro in 1877. In 1880 he was one of the Garfield electors. He has the largest collection of law books in Owensboro. He was married in February, 1871, to Sue Henderson, daughter of P. J, Henderson, of Breckenridge County. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. -*h' Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS OODNTT. 12tf Jasper B. Karn, City Judge, Owensboro, is a 'son of Christo- pher and H. A. (Bristow) Karn, both natives of Daviess County. His grandfather, wlio was also named Christopher, was of German parentage but a native of Pennsylvania, and moved from there to Shelby County, Ky., and in 1819 came to Daviess County, settling in what is known as the forks of the creek, where he purchased about 3,000 acres of land and lived till his death. His wife was Leah Boone, the great niece of Daniel Boone. They reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom married and settled on the tract of land purchr ",ed by their father. Christopher Karn, Jr., died in 1878. His widow is still living. They reared a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, Jasper B. being the eldest son. He lived at home till nineteen years of age, when, having acquired a good common- school education, he began teaching school, which he followed at intervals till 1869. In August of that year he came to Owensboro and commenced the study of law in the office of Sweeney & Stewart, and was licensed to practice by Martin H. Co^er in March, 1870, still remaining, however, in the office of Sweeney & Stewart till the fall of that year. In 1872 he began the practice of law in Owensboro. In April, 1876, he was unanimously elected by the Council, City Attorney; served one term, and in 1878 was again elected to fill a vacancy. In April, 1882, he was elected City Judge. In 1878 he formed a partnership with (r. W. Ray, which continued till 1880. May 30, 1876, he married Sallie L., daughter of J. P. Fuqua. She died Dec. 13, 1881, leaving two children- Eva and Virga, the latter now deceased. Wm. P. Kent, a young and rising lawyer of Owensboro, is a native of Wythesville, Va. , and is of the seventh generation of a family who have owned and resided upon the lands which their ancestors reclaimed from the forest and the Indians. He graduated as Ph. B. at William and Mary College in 1876, and in 1880 he graduated in law at the same institution. He has chosen Owens- boro for his residence on account of its future prospects as a city. Thomas Landrum, Sheriff 1851-'5, executed the death sentence upon Mr. Eichardson, for murder. He died a year or two ago, in McLean County. Lucius P. Little. Short and simple are the annals of the pion- eer. To the unsteady hand of tradition we owe most of that which yet remains of all that was said and done, achieved and suffered, bv those who came to Kentucky as the red man departed. Their Digitized by Microsoft® 180 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COtTNTY. very names are being blotted out from the memories and records of men. Deserving a better fate than this, the name of George Little is here set down. He was born in Scotland about the year 1735. The particular locality of iiis birth is now matter of conject- ure. The patronymic has long been known in different parts of that country. The station in life of this particular stock in the old country, as well as its history, are both unknown. As tradition eagerly transmits the faintest suspicion of exalted rank, and as it has not done so in this case, the presumption is against its exist- ence. All hopes of ancestral connection with those twin roots of British nobility — the Danish buccaneers and Norman plunderers — are thus forever blighted. For this depritration Scotia's own bard has furnished the consoling couplet — Rank is but the guinea's stamp ; A man's a man for a' tliat. This unpedigreed lot is indeed to be preferred, even if it were possible to trace a lineage to that ancient and noble house, ante- dating all modern nobility — founded by the worthy baron alluded to in Charles Dickens' History of Martin Chuzzlewit, as the Lord Nozoo. In early manhood he emigrated from the old to the new world. His first . known place of residence in America was at Newberry, in the colony of Seuth Carolina. His pursuits were agricultural, and he was so engaged at the rupture between the colonies and mother country. What his previous political senti- ments had been is unknown, but he was opposed to the war that ensued. Without fortune or political influence, he asked no more of Government than liberty to pn rs ue, un moles ted , his pri va te affairs. Possibly his attachment to the mother country, or kindred left behind, influenced his opinions. A dissenter from the established church, he early joined the Wesleyan movement, which before the Revolution had a considerable membership this side the Atlantic. His religious faith — embracing the doctrine of submission to the powers that be — may have colored his political views. However this may be, when war came and the colonial Government required his services, he enlisted in the A raerican army. His m.ilitary exploits had no chronicler. No record of the nature and duration of his service survives. Nothing more is certainly known than that in an en- gagement between the American forces and a detachment of the enemy under Tarleton's command he received a bullet wound in the hip. As the result of this he went to his grave a cripple. The ball was never extracted. Independence and peace finally came. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOUNTT. 131 and great rejoicing at the result. But the sturdy Soot still per- aisted that rebellion was a mistake, and died nearly forty years after with his opinion unchanged. He remained in South Carolina until the end of the century. He had married before the Revolu- tion, and his children were born before or during that war. Some time after the war — how long can not be stated — his wife died. His children, five daughters and five sons, reached manhood and womanhood, married, and sought homes of their own. His old home was thus broken up.' Age and infirmity approached, avant courier of the beginning of the end. On thp termination of the Revolutionary war, the exploits of Daniel Boone in the wilderness beyond the mountains were borne by rumor from his old home on the Yadkin to the four winds. Alluring accounts were afioat of the new country — beautiful and fertile, and watered by a river that rivaled the charms of its shores by its own grace and majesty. To the young and adventurous this prospect was irresistible; to all it was inviting. Jonas and John Little, two of his sons, decided to try their fortunes in this new Utopia. With their families they turned their backs on civilization and their old home in South Carolina, and started on their journey. Their father accompanied them. Their first halting place was in Barren County, in this State. Here they settled in 1802. John Little, becoming dissat- isfied, removed to Tennessee, where he resided until old age. He went thence to Texas, and shortly afterward died. George Little and his son Jonas remained in Barren County two years. They then removed to and settled a few miles north of the Long Falls of Green River, in what was then Ohio County. The town of Vienna at that point on the river had maintained its fitful fortunes from its establishment in 1785. It succeeded a fort or block house erected there some years before. In 1848 it was supplanted by the present town of Calhoon. George Little engaged at such farming as sup- plied the wants of that primitive day. He had never acquired any considerable means, and was dependent on his own exertions — when the time for toil had about passed for him. The Ohio County Court exempted him from poll tax " on account of bodily infirmity," but not improbably intended in part a patriotic recog- nition of his sufferings for his country. These last years were comparatively uneventful in local aff'airs in -this region. Society was primitive, business limited, and mostly in the farming way. The muster day and the religious meeting were about the only Digitized by Microsoft® i3y HISTORY or DAVIESS COUNTY. occasions wlicii peoi)le nssenibled together. The pioneer necessa- rily lived much alone— exempt from public haunts; Fmding tongues in trees, books in running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything. Ti;o war whoop of the Indian liad scarcely ceased to eclio around tiie scttiei'^ c!ihin. Indeed, the Oliio River bounded the Indian coiiDtrv (111 the south, which readied the great lakes to the north, and utrc'tchud from the Muskingum to the boundless west. Bear hui\ting was still good, deer abundant, and the wolf and panther still lingered. Many years after the deatli of his first wife he inter- married with Mary Douglass, widow of Alexander Douglass. ' Her maiden name was Ilandley. She was a native of Scotland, whence she came in childhood. In early life she married Douglass, of South Carolina. By him she bore several daughters, one of whom (Betsy) married Jonas Little. In 1784 or '5 Douglass came to Ken- tucky in company with his brother-in-law, Captain John Handley. The latter was a surveyor. Their purpose was to examine the country, and survey and locate lands with a view of ultimate set- tlement. They returned to South Carolina, and on arriving in that State they separated to go to their respective homes. Doug- lai5S never reached his destination, being mysteriously murdered. Time has never unraveled the mystery of his death. After the death of George Little, his widow rharried Edward Atterbury, ot Daviess County, who died in 1824. Mary Atterbury survived several years, outliving most of her generation. From youtb to old age she was noted for beauty, the grace of her manners, and the rare charm of her colloquial powers. She died in a green old age, and was laid to rest by the grave of her second husband. She was sister of the well-known pioneer. Captain John Ilandlej', and also sister to Kachel, wife of Anthony Thomson, the first Justice of the Peace in all this region. On the first of February, 1815, — the same year in which Daviess County was established, — George Little made his will. He left the bulk of his small estate to his wife. Shortly after — having reached fourscore — he departed this life, or, in the quaint words of his will, he gave his soul into the hand of Almighty God that first gave it, and resigned his body to the earth, " believing, that at the general resurrection " he would receive it again. His mortal remains were interred in the Anthony Thomson graveyard (now in McLean County) where his dust awaits the final summons. In personal appearance he was stoutly built, Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOtJNTT. 133 rather under than over middle height, with dark hair and eyes, and marked features. He expressed himself freely in conversation, his broad Scotch dialect not being always readily understood. He was always a pious man, being established in his religious opinions be- yond all shadow of turning. He had a clear mind and acute obser- vation. Perhaps he was obstinate, equally in the right or wrong. To express a kindly feeling for Great Britain after the Eevolution and during the collisions that culminated in the war of 1812, was not only unpopular, but was defying a very general and heated public sentiment. But to the last the old solf^'er maintained that under the fostering care of the British Government the American people would have best secured their prosperity and happiness. In the light of all that has followed, who knows? This meager and imperfect sketch (doing poor justice to its subject) may serve to remind this generation that the seeds of virtue were brought hither by the pioneers, and that it is the fault of their descendants if there be no fruitage. The pioneers led simple lives and were mostly unlettered, but they realized in large measure all the better and nobler character- istics of true manhood. Martin S. Mattvngly, son of George and Catharine (Miles) Mat- tingly, was born in Nelson County, Ky., Sept. 27, 1843. His father was born in Marion County, Ky., in 1793, and died in Daviess County in 1859. His mother was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 1803, and died in Daviess County in 1874. Martin S. re- sided at home the greater part of his minority, working for neigh- bors and attending the district or subscription school. In his nineteenth year he attended St. Mary's College, Marion County, fitting himself for examination by studying evenings. He then taught school for two years in different parts of the county, after which he clerked for Bard & Price, of Sorghotown; he was Post master there two years. He worked for J. M. Mattingly & Son of Grissom's Landing, about a year, and was then elected County Clerk of Daviess County, August, 1874, where he is now serving his fourth term. In 1879 he married Belle, daughter of Jesse and Mary (Adams) Moreland. They have two children— Jesse, born Jan. 27, 1880; and Arthur F., born June 17, 1882. Eawes McCreery, only son of Colonel T. C. McCreery, was ad- mitted to the bar here in 1880, practiced here until November, 1882, when he moved to Chicago. Eon. Thomis C. McCreery, formerly United States Senator, was Digitized by Microsoft® 134- HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. born in Kentucky in 1^17; attended Center College, at Danville; studied law, but turned his attention to agricultural pursuits; was a candidate for Presidential elector in 1852, and defeated; but in 1860 he was elected, and voted tor Breckenridge and Lane; was elected United States Senator in Februaiy, 1868, as a Democrat, vice James Guthrie, resigned, and served until March 4, 1871. He was elected by 110 votes, against nine for Sidney M. Barnes, Union, and five for Aaron Harding, third party. In the caucus his chief competitors were Jesse D. Bright and Richard H. Stanton. Mr. McCreery was again elected United States Senator, Dec. 19, 1871, by 112 votes, against twenty for John M. Harlan, Republi- can, and served from March 4, 1873, to March 4, 1879. Mr. Mc- Creery, before he suffered partial paralysis, was one of the most popular orators of the day; and he has the highest respect of all parties for the faithfulness with which he served the interests of his State. His very large and valuable library was entirely consumed by fire some years ago. Residence in the southern suburbs of Owensboro, on Frederica street. John O. McFarland was Senator 1851-'3, Representative to the Legislature 1859-'6L, and Circuit Clerk 1872-'4. John II. Mol^adand, Representative to the Legislature in 1848, is the oldest living resident of Daviess County. See Chapter I. — "Early Settlement." John L. McFarland has been admitted to the bar, but is now Deputy Circuit Clerk. John S. MoFarland^ deceased, was County Clerk in 1831, Cir- cuit Clerk 1832-'45, Representative 1850 '1 and 1862-'5, and Senator 1853-'7. Robert W. McFarland, son of John H., and his eighteenth child, is a member of the bar in Owensboro. He was a Representa- tive to the Legislature 1879-'81. W. S. McFarland, formerly County Attorney, is also a son of John H. McFarland. He practiced law here some years before the war, and probably a little while after its outbreak. He is a Republican, and is now a United States ganger at Mt. "Washing- ton, Bullitt County. John Hardin Mc Henry, Sr., came to Owensboro in 1853, and died Nov. 1, 1871, at his residence in the same city. He was oorn in Washington County, Ky., Oct. 13, 1797, the son of Rev. Barnabas McHenry. In 1821 he was appointed Commonwealth's Attorney for this district, which position he resigned in 1839. In Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUN'IT. VA^t 1840 he was elected to the Legislature, as a Whig, and in 1850 a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention. At his death he left seven children — Hon. Henry D., Colonel John li., William H., "W. Estill, Lemuel S., Mrs. Dr. Hale and Mrs. Robert Craig. Mr. McHenry was regarded as one of the best lawyers in the State, and as a high-toned statesman and Christian gentleman. Colonel John Hardin McHenry, a prominent member of the Daviess County bar, and particularly known throughout the coun- try for his Union sentiments, was born in Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky., Feb. 21, 1832. His father was an own cons' n of the celebrated Colonel John J. Hardin, of Illinois, who took so prominent a part in the Mexican war. He received a fine literary educa- tion, spending three years in West Point Military Academy. In 1857 he graduated in law at the University of Louisville, and prac- ticed his profession in Owensboro until the war, when he raised the Seventeentli Kentucky Infantry, and Oct. 1, 1861, had the first engagement with Confederates fought on Kentucky soil. His regiment also participated in the severe fight at Fort Donelson, under General Grant, and in the field of Shiloh; and subsequently it was consolidated with the Fifth Kentucky, under his command. In 1862, when President Lincoln issued his first proclamation on the subject of euiancipation, he took issue with the Government, and ])ublished an order to his regiment not to aid slaves in their ilisrht from their owners, which order resulted in his dismissal from the service. In this transaction tlie people of Kentucky stood by him. Even the Legislature took up his defense. In 1863 he made a race for Congress against George II. Ycatnan, but was defeated, his friends being " bayoneted away" from tlie polls. Siuee then he has followed his profession in Owensboro. The Colonel was one of ten Captains selected by lot, April y, 185S, by (Tresent partnership in 1872. Wm. H. Perhlns has held the oiiice of Sheriff three terms. He is a native of "Warren County, Ky., and was horn June 29, 1832. His grandparents on his father's side came from Virginia about 1810, and settled near Bowling Green. His father, Joseph, was born in Warren County; he married, in 1831, Eebecca Talbott, of Butler County. W. H. Perkins was five year's old wlien he came to Daviess County. He was educated at Bon Harbor and Owens- boro; he led the life of a farmer until he was twenty-one years of age, when he was appointed Constable and afterward Deputy Sherifl. Most of his life lias been spent in business connected with public offices. In 1866 he was elected Sheriff. May 6, 1862, lie married Miss Mildred Duke, of Oliio County. They have three children. Mr. Perkins was politically a Wliig, but afterward became a Democrat. He has carried on a farm since he was eigliteen years old, and was also for two years engaged in the grocery business in Owensboro, with John Thixton. He has been one of the popular officials of this county. John Piles, Sheriff 1823-'5, was one of the renowned wags or madcaps of the county; and many stories, even at this late day, are related of liis amusing pranks and eccentricities. Major John Popu, one of the most successful members of tlie bar, came from Springfield, Ky., located on a farm below town, and became wealthy.. He served in the Soutliern army, and after the war he moved into town and practiced law with Wm. !N. Sweeney. He died Oct. 29, 1866, a devout Christian, esteemed by all who knew him. J. D. Powers, born Oct. 17. 1844, in llawesvillf, Hancock Ci>., Ky., is a son of Stephen and Emily N. (Slirader) Powers. His father was a native of Ohio, and liis mother ot' Hancock Cnunty, Ky. Mr. Powers was admitted to tlio bar in the full of 1^73, at Hawc^ville, and becan to practice there. He located at ( )w('n:jb()ri>, 1 h r to ' Dec. 27, lfS77, and practiced nearly a year alone, then formed the copartnership with Judge G. W. "Williams, which still continuet. Politically he is a Democrat: was Assistant Elector in Stute at large in 1S76, on Tilden and Hendricks' ticket; vvas a nieinhi.'r o!' the Legislature of Keiitucky, representing Hancock Couiity in 1873- '4. He was elected Vice-President of Fir.'ri "^^■at^ona! Pan!' Digitized by Microsoft® 140 HI8T0KT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. iu the spring of 1882. Oct. 19, 1875, he married Clara Hawes, youngest daughter of Hon. Albert Gallatin Hawes, and a native of Owensboro. They have six sons and one daughter. Geo. W. Bay, attorney, was born May 24, 1819, in "Washington County, Ky. ; was married Jnly 18, 1848, to Margaret J. Harris, of the same county. In 1851 he graduated at the University of Louisville, and in the fall of 1859 he came to Owensboro, where he has since been engaged in the practice of law. G. L. Beinhard, a lawyer in Owensboro some years ago, is now a Circuit Judge, residing at Rockport, Ind. Oamden Biley, Sr., is an old member of the Daviess County bar. He is a native of this county, and moved into Owensboro in 1865. Camden BiUy, Jr., nephew of the preceding, was admitted to the bar in 1878, but is now mainly engaged iii the manufacture of whisky, at Yelvington. H. W. Scott was born in Nelson County in 1814. At the age of eighteen he entered St. Mary's College, where he remained three years, then went to Spencer County and engaged in school-teaching. Nov. 23, 1828, he married Catharine Beard, and continued to teach school for a year longer, then commenced farming in Spencer County. In October, 1852, he moved to Daviess County, where he has since resided. He taught school a while, then bought a farm on the Litchfield road, with intention of devoting himself to agricultural pursuits. He had early in life made himself familiar with the science of surveying, and in this respect his services were 80 highly valued that at the election of 1858 he was chosen County Surveyor of Daviess County. He retained this position ten suc- cessive years, and in 1868 was chosen Sheriff of the county. He held the position two terras, and in 1874 was again elected to the same office. Few men have served more faithfully. J. D. Shortell, lawyer; office over the First National Bank, was born in Ireland, in 1843, the son of James and Mary Shortell. They came to this country in 1849, and soon after arriving settled in Owensboro, where the subject of this sketch has since principally made it his home. His father followed the gro- cery business in this city, and died in 1860. Soon after the war broke out James D. and his mother visited their native land, and in the fall of 1864 returned to their adopted home In America. Mr. S. was educated at the Daviess County Academy in Owens- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNT?. 141 bore, and St. Mary's College at Lebanon, Ky. On his return from Ireland in L86i, he was employed in the Provost Marshal's oiEce, and in the Internal Revenue Department, Fourth District of Ken- tncky, from 1865 to 187i, — offices at Lebanon, Shelbyville and Greensbursf. In 1876 he returned to Owensboro with the view of practicing law, where be had been admitted to the bar the previous year. Until 1882 he was bookkeeper and cashier for R. Monarch & Co., in the whisky trade, and then he was employed by M. P. Mattingly in a similar capacity. Up to 1881 he acted as attorney for the distillers here, representing their inter'^sts at Wasbington. Mr. Shorten is a lawyer of superior talent, and is a keen witted, thorough going gentleman. Robert W. Slack was bora in Bardstown, Ky., in 1848; was educated in the schools of that place and at Cecilian College; studied law with James Montgomery at Elizabeth town, and was admitted to the bar at that place in 1870. In 1873 he came to Owensboro; in 1876 he formed a partnership with Judge L. P. Little, which was dissolved in 1880 by the latter being elected Judge, and since May, 1882, he has been in partnership with Jo Haycraft. He was City Attorney 187 3-' 5. M. G. Stirman, attorney, was born in Owensboro, April 28, 1858. His parents, Dr. W. D. and R. A. (Wall) Stirman, are residents of this city. M. G. was the second of four sons. He first attended the private school of H. P. Hart, and at the age of eleven or twelve entered the common schools, graduating at the high school in 1874; he completed his education at the. State University of Indiana in 1879. He was admitted to the Kentucky bar in March, 1882, and has since followed his profession. In 1882 he was elected County Superintendent, and still retains that oiiice. James Stuart, born March 22, 1820, within three miles of the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, in Hardin, now La Rue, County, Ky., was a son of Alexander L. and Jane Allen (McLure) Stuart. Ills mother was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born in 1783 in Logan's Station, and died in 1875, within tsvo days of ninety-two years of ago. His father was a son of Alexander L. Stuart, whose parents were fugitives from Scotland. His father died on ship- board, and his mother a few months after reaching Virginia. Alex- ander was reared in the family of Colonel McKee, and when sixteen years of age entered the Revolutionary war and served till its close. He then came to Kentucky, and after serving in all the campaigns against the Indians located in Warren County, being Digitized by Microsoft® Ii2 HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOtTNTY. among its first settlers. He had a family of three sons and five daughters, the most of whom died in early life of consumption. His son, Alexander L., raised a company when nineteen years of age and served in the war of 1812. He was twice married and had three children, a daughter and two sons. He died at the age of thirty-four, and his youngest son at the age of thirty. James Stuart is, therefore, probably the only remaining male member of the original Stuart family. His early education was obtained in what was called the old field schools. His professional education was commenced in the ofiBce of the noted Jo Allen. He was licensed to practice when nineteen years of age. Judge McLean be- ing the first and Judge Churchill the second to sign the license. Soon after receiving his license he was married to Mary 0. Fair- leigb, daughter of the clerk of Meade County, and located in Brandenburg. In 1849 he was elected to represent Meade County in the Legislature. The Constitutional Convention was provided for at that session of the Legislature. He was a candidate for Circuit Judge in 1850 bnt was defeated. In 1856 he was elected to that oflBce, and re-elected in 1862. Having removed to Owens- boro in 1867, he resigned his oflice and became a partner of Hon. W. K. Sweeney in the practice of law. In 1874 he was again elected Circuit Judge. He was a candidate for re-election in 1880 but was defeated. He is now practicing in Owensboro. He is probably the oldest lawyer in the Grreen River country. As a lawyer Mr. Stuart has been retained in several of what the lawyers denominate "6'asiw ceZeJres." Of these we mention the following prosecution for murder: The first in order of time was perhaps the Commonwealth vs. Thos. Florence, indicted for the murder of a Mrs. Green, in the Hardin Circuit Court. The case at- tracted such attention that not a juror resident in the county could be had to sit in the trials. It was twice mooted before juries brought from other counties but in each instance the result was hung juries,— six for acquitting and six for conviction, — and, sin- gularly enough, the juries stood in the same form, for in each those who would convict were four for manslaughter and ten years penal service, and two for murder and the penalty of death. The next was the prosecution in the name of the Commonwealth V9. James, George and David Smith, charged with the murder of Dr. Hughes in Hardin County, at Glendale. They were indicted in Hardin County but the venue being changed to Grayson, they were Acquitted amid the plaudits of those who witnessed the trial. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORr OF DAVIESS COtTNTV. 143 The defense was placod on the grontui of killed in the defense of their father. The case was so noticeable that Oolonul Brcckcnridife was brought from Lexington to prosecute and an Jible firm of law- 3'ers in Elizabethtown, also retained in aid of the State's Attorney, and the subject of this sketch taken up from Owensboro to aid in the defense. The next was the case of the Commonwealth vs. Peyton Kin- cheloe and two others, charged with the murder of Avis Tliogmorton in the Daviess Circuit Court. We need say nothing of this, as the homicide and trial took place in this county and of course the par- ticulars and circumstances are as well known as we could detail them. It may be proper for us to state that the defendant was read- ily acquitted on the plea of self-defense. The Florence case was never tried out, the Government after the hung juries having "non-prossed" the case. Mr. Stuart was also in the defense of Wm. Bell, indicted in the Federal Court at Louisville, for the murder of a colored man, OundiflF. This was the first case under what is known as the civil rights law. Bell, after a hung jury, was capitally convicted, but was rescued on a motion for a new trial and finally the case went off for want of jurisdiction in the court. At an early day in professional life Mr. Stuart made a defense for James Dejarnett, charged with barn burning, in the Breckenridge Circuit Court. This case was noticeable on account of the character of the Dejarnett family. As a judge he eat in seven capital cases, and rendered seven capital sentences. In two of these the condemned committed suicide the uight before they were to suffer. During the war he had many thrilling adventures and was often captured in the guerrilla raids. He was holding court at Hawesville when the great mob occurred which resulted in the murder of Thos. Lowe in the jail, which at the time was regarded as the most tragic affair which had ever happened in the State; and we suppose, coupled with subsequent events which grew out of it, nothing could be more dramatic in real life. He was in neither army although offered a colonelcy thrice, pending the war. As a judge it is thought that Mr. Stuart has decided more cases than any other judge in America; for a time he averaged probably ten thousand a year. Mr. Stuart is also a writer, as he has published articles in the press, and has composed some fine poems, — among them "The Old Dance," "Bob Walker," " Mania a Potu," etc. An extraordina- rily good poem of his was occasioned by his reading an account of Digitized by Microsoft® 144 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. the discovery of an English inumniy with a harp in its hand, one string of which was still in tune, after a lapse of thousands of years! He has a family of three sons and one daughter — William A., Charles, Alfred A. and L?ttie Logan. W. A. Stuart was born in Brandenburg, Meade County, Ky., Sept. 8, 1847. He came to Daviess'Count}, Ky., in 1867, and has since made Owensboro his home. He was Master Commissioner of Daviess Circuit Court during the years 1876 and 1877. From Jan. 1, 1878, to Sept. 10, 1882, he was Internal Revenue Collector of the Second District of Kentucky. Hon. WiUiam ]V. Sweeney, one of the leading members of the Daviess County bar, was born in Liberty, Casey Co., Ky., May 5, 1832. His grandfather, Charles Sweeney, was a native of Virginia, and on emigrating to Kentucky settled in Casey (then Lincoln) County, where Joel Sweeney, the father of William N., was born. Joel married Obedience Edwards, of Garrard County. Mr. Sweeney obtained his early education in liis native town; was aflerward a student in Bethany College, West Virginia. At the age of seventeen he began to study law with his father, who was educated as a lawyer, but had practiced his profession very little. He subsequently pursued his legal studies with McDowell Fogle, one of the first lawyers of Liberty. On his admission to the bar he beganjpractice at Liberty, a;t the same time occupying the position of Deputy Clerk of the court. He came to Owens- boro, May 4, 1853, and commenced practicing law. In 1854 he was elected County Attorney, and held the office four years. In January of the same y^ar he was married to Lizzie Rodgers, of Owensboro. In 1856 he entered into a partnership with R. H. Taylor, which continued six or seven years. In 1860 his name appeared on the Breckenridge electoral ticket for Kentucky. In 1866 he was a candidate for Congress in the Second Congressional District, and was defeated by John Young Brown, by one vote. In 1868 he was nominated for the same office by the Democratic Convention, and was elected over Langley, of Henderson, the Ke- publican candidate, and H. D. McHeury, Democrat. He served one term ably and honorably. Declining a re-election, he resumed his practice at the bar. In 1863 he formed a law partnership with John Pope, which continued three or four years. Mr. Sweeney is celebrated among the members of the bar for the rapidity and accuracy displayed in his drawing up of legal documents. He is a close reasoner, a logical speaker, convincing Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 145 by argument and reasoning rather than winning by rhetoric and eloquence. Though distinguished most by civil practice, he has been engaged in nearly all criminal cases of importaooe. He wa« one of the leading lawyers in the case of the Commonwealth V8. the Kincheloes and Luckett, for the murder of Throckmorton, one of the most noted cases tried in recent years in Kentucky. The prosecution was ably conducted by the late Phil. Lee, of Louisville, at that time considered the most successful prosecutor in the State. Mr. Sweeney's participation in this trial (gained him much celeb- rity, and his speech on giving the case to the j^ry was regarded as a remarkably fine eftort. His standing at the bar is such that for the last ten years he has been chosen on one side or the other of every important case tried in the Daviess. County courts. James J. and Wm. C. Sweeney, sons of the preceding, are in partnership with him in the practice of law. G. W. Swoope, attorney and counselor at law, Owensboro. A. C. Tanner, a resident of McLean County, practiced a little in the courts of Daviess County; he is now at Evansville. E. P. & R. H. Taylor are attorneys, who^e office is over the First National Bank. E. P. is a native of this county, located in Owensboro in 1873, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. His age now is about thirty-two. Eichard H. was born in Daviess County, Ky., Jan. 29, 1835. He was reared on a farm and educated in this county. In 1858 he commenced the practice of law in the courts of Daviess and adjoining counties. He has been a member of the City Council and has been City Attorney for Owensboro several years; has also been Master Commissioner of Daviess Circuit Court. He was a Director of tlie Planters' Bank several years, and was subsequently its President. When the bank was changed to the First National Bank of Owensboro, Mr. Taylor still continued its President. He is practicing law and carrying on a farm of 130 acres a mile and a half southeast of Owensboro, where he resides at the present time. He also owns 480 acres near Yelvington, 200 acres in Hancock County, city property in Owensboro, and thirteen acres adjoining Owensboro. He, was married in December, 1858, in Jefterson County, Ky., to Mary Fielder, a native of St. Louis, Mo., bom in September, 1839. They have four children— Gibson, born Aug. 1, 1861; Susan, September, 1863; Samuel P., March, 1874, and Zach, May, 1880. Clinton K Tharp, lawyer, was bom in Mariotf County, Ky., 10 Digitized by Microsoft® 14C UISTnlcY tiF TiAVlESS (.UUXTY. (>ct. 28, 1S4S. His early (Hlncatioi) was received in the coinmoD scliooly fif I">n/, less County, anil hif colietnato at Ceeilian College, tinil ar tiic- Keiituckj rTiiiver?ity at Lexiii,^toa. He subserjueiitly f5iii(lif-tl law an'l ^n-adnated in tlie law dc-partmciitof tlie [Jniversity ol'MiHdgari. Was a iDcmboi' of the Legislature lS77-'9, from Daviesh County. In 1S80 he moved to Washington County, Ind. Jo.oej)/i T/ton3o, liy the kind- 110^,3 of two of his brothers who had settled in Louisville, he was enabled to attend a better class of schools than he had found in his native county. He there entered the scho;)] conducted by Messrs. Cissell and Hanover, where he made considerable ].rogrcss in the higher branches; but his means and time were too limited to admit of anything like thorouj^hness in any department of learning, and jie has deeply felt the want of better and more extended scholastic training. In 1837 he located at Helena, Ark., where he taught a private school during the year 1S3S; but losing his health, he re- turned to Louisville, and entered the office of Tliomasson & Boone as a law student. In 1840, having obtained a license to practice law, he located at Ilawesville, the county seat of his native county, in the vicinity of which he continued to reside, farming, practicing his profession, and presiding as Circuit Judge of the district, until he located at Owensboro, where ho has been actively engaged in his practice since September, 1870. In 18il he married Mary W. Hamilton, daughter of Andrew Hamilton, a farmer of Hancock County. She was born in Franklin County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Williams raised five children— Hamilton, married Nannie Hall, daughter of Major Wm. F. Hall, and died leaving one daughter; Jane, wife of Judge W. P. Baker, resident of Daviess County; James R, now deceased; Mary Ruth, and Hugh A., who was admitted to the Daviess County bar in 1881. Judge "Williams has but little taste for official positions, holding that as a general rule " private station is the post of honor," and enioying with keen apprcQiation that freedom from restraint of thought and expression which official positions usually impose. He has, however, departed occasionally from this principle; in 1850-'l he served in the Legislature of Kentucky as a Represen- tative from the counties of Hancock and Ohio, receiving, against two formidable competitors, every vote in Hancock County, except thirty-seven. In 1856 he was chosen a Buchanan elector in the Second Congressional District. In 1857 he was nominated by the Democratic party for the State Senate, but was defeated by John B. Bruner, Esq., of Breckenridge County, who was the represen- tative of the "American party," which had an overwhelming major- ity in the district. He was an ardent supporter of John C. Brecken- ridge for the Presidency in 1860. In 1867 he was elected Circuit Judge of the Third Judicial District, which office he held until January, 1870, when he resigned the officQ. In this year he was a Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 143' candidate for the office of Judge of the Court of Appeals in the Fourth Appellate District, but the Democratic party having de- termined to make a political nomination for the office, he withdrew his name from the canvass upon the ground that he was unwilling to accept that high judicial position under a political nomination; but at the same time felt it his duty to defer to the judgment of his party in their determination to make a political nomination for the office. Judge Williams co-operated with the Whig party until it was absorbed by the American party in 1855, since which he has uni- formly acted with the Democratic party in all political contests. He was an ardent sympathizer with the Confederate movement, and urged that the State of Kentucky should unite with the other Southern States and make common cause with them. His sym- pathy with the South led to an order for his arrest, to avoid which he exiled himself in Canada. The war being over he accepted its results, and holds that duty, patriotism, and honor demand a united co-operation of each section for the common interests of all sections of a common country. Judge Williams is distinguished for his industry, and the assiduity with which he devotes himself to whatever he undertakes. He holds that unremitting application to business, rather than the gifts of nature, is the basis of success in the practice of law. In August, 1882, he was a candidate for tlie office of Superior Judge for the Western Judicial District of Kentucky. A plurality of delegates were instructed to vote for Judge Williams; he was defeated. Hugh A. Williams, son of Geo. W.Williams, Esq., was admitted to the bar in 1882, and he has his office in tiie same room with his father. J. Q. Winfrey came here from Virginia in 1877, practiced law for awhile, and moved to Evansville, Ind., where he is now follow- ing his profession. Oeorge Hdm Teaman was born in Hardin County, Ky., Nov. 1, 1829. Had a grammar-school education, studied law at home, without a yjreceptor, was admitted to the bar in 1851, and without having had any experience as a practitioner removed to Owensboro in 1852. One of the iirst cases of any importance lie ever tried was Dickens against Call icon and others, in McLean County, an action of ejectment, placed in liis hands by an eminent lawyer of Elizabeth town, Ky. Digitized by Microsoft® 150 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. While striving to establish himself professionally, he became editor of the Owensboro Gazette^ a weekly, by way of employing spare time, and adding somewhat to his limited income. Although his editorial labors did not at all interfere with his attention to business, he has always regarded his connection with the paper as a mistake, tending to divert from him recognition as a lawyer. One editorial, in opposition to the repeal of the Missouri Compro- mise, attracted wide attention and comment. In Angnst, 1854, while practicing law and editing the Gazette, he was elected County Judge of Daviess County, which office he held for four years. Although such an office was an honor to so young a man, and though he could and did continue his practice in the Circuit Courts and Court of Appeals, he discovered that the position rather retarded than advanced his principal aim — to be- come eminent in his profession — and declined to be a candidate for re-election. He was married Nov. 20, 1855, to Lelia P., daughter of Eobert Triplett. After the expiration of his term as County Judge, he continued to practice, both in the Circuit Courts and the Court of Appeals, until the breaking out of the civil war, when, in Au- gust, 1861, he was elected to the Legislature of Kentucky, by a small majority. The canyatss was one ot' the most active, heated, and earnestly contested ever made in the county. He was the candidate of what was known as the Union party, opposed to se- cession, and opposed to calling a convention to consider the ques- tion, the Eepublican party having at that time a very small following in riie State. The following session of the Legislature covered an important and critical period in the history of the State. Before his term of two years had expired, he was, at a special election, held in Oc- tober, 1862, elected to Congress from the Second District, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of General James S. Jackson, and served one session. In August, 1863, he was re-elected, and served the full term. While in Congress he advocated and voted for the Constitutional Amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. He became a candidate for re-election, and in August, 1865, was defeated, though securing a larger vote than when elected. In the autumn of 1865, without any solicitation or application on his part, he was named as Minister to Copenhagen, and sailed for that capital in October, 1865. Wiiile residing at Co])enliageij he wrote and published the " Study of Government." Early in Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DA\'IKSS (Ji.lfM'V. I .'i 1 1870 he tendered his resignation, but rcuiaiucd at his ]iMht until his successor arrived in October, when he took leave ot tlie Daui-h Government and returned to the United States. lie diat De Soto. June 16, E. A. Hathaway, Dr. S. S. Watkins, Mr. Barber and others were arrested by the Provost Guard at Louisville, Captain Blood, on charge of " aiding and abetting " the Rebellion. Most of them were required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and were all released in a few days. June 19, " minute men " organized at Owensboro. June 20, Dr. J. F. Kimbley was arrested by guerrillas, but was directly released. His horses and buggy were stolen. June 21, about 200 soldiers here from Louisville. June 25, a company of cavalry arrived. June 30, Union iiag raised on the court-house. About these times arrests were made almost daily by the mil- itary authorities, and for a time a picket guard was kept around tlie city of Owensboro. July 18, J. M. Hany, being ordered to arrest Vawters on account of hurrahing for Jeff Davis and publicly exulting over the occupa- tion of Henderson by the Confederates, was resisted; and the latter, swearing that he would die, etc., before he would be taken, was shot and killed. On this da}' also a company of horse guards was or- (ranized in Owensboro, to protect the town against marauding bands. Geo. H. Yoiiman was elected Captain, Jo Harrison First Lieutenant, and Joseph Thomas Sscond Lieutenant. This com- piiTiy, however, was not long kept up. July 21, ii company from Torre Hante, Lid., hero. July 27, Aquilla Spray attacked and wounded by guerrillas at (yiirdsvillc. An"-iist. — During this month Mr. Yeaman endeavored to raise a regiment, but failed. Aug. 21, I. P. \Vashburn arrested and sent otf, but' soon returned. Aug. 29, Lieutenant-Colonel Netter arrived from Hartford with a number of men. The whole number of en- 11 Digitized by Microsoft® 162 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. relied militia in this State was ascertained to be 101,378; that of Daviess County. 1,',)99. Sept. 19— THE SKIRMISH NEAR OWENSBOliO. About sunrise on Frida}-, Sept. 19, a band of about 850 guerrillas advan'^ed upon this post, in three divisions, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Martin. One division, iuHnberinly because their ammunition gave out, and retreated in good dnlor; they lost but one oi- two killed, one commanding olliccr not remembcj'ing that any one was killed outright, or thai iui\ wounded (very few at most) were left upon the battle-field (if any were left, they iMt confident tliey were left among friends, who would take care of tb j It must be understood, however, that accounrs vary oji both Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY '11- liAVIESK COrNTV. lt)5 siflos, Romo Confederates estimating tlioir loss iis lii^-li as seventy or ciglity (probably coiintinfx the pi-isoiiers, deserters, etc. i, and the Federals luit all ayreeinL'' a-^ to every detail. We add a few minor incidents. When musket tirinnj eomnuTieed at SiitherlaiKrs Hill, Colnnel Wood shouted out, "T>oys, wlieel about that cannon, faciiii;- the enemy," and he himself lis::;hted hiscip;ar with aniatch, and tired the gun — the iirst and second i'f)unds with canuister slu^t, and the third a solid shot, which was so heavy that it broke off' the (hinge and rendered the cannon useless. When tlio Colonel and John Hicks were marching up tiie hill, a ritle shot was apjtarently received, wlien the Colonel fell as if dead. Ilicks remarking that lie iKis killed, the forme!' junipeil n]> and called out, "No, 1 ain't; but (pointing to a jiarticiilar man among the enemy) kill tliat d — n rebel." ' The Confederates rendezvoused afterward at some point on Green River, but were soon driven away again. The Federal forces were coming and going on the next Monday and Tuesday; nearly all the citizens were under' arms tor awhile, until the excitement died away. TnK OKATIl OF COl-ONKI. NIC'ITHK. The following account of the death of (Jolonel Netter, furnished us by one of his soldiers, and now one of the best citizens ot Owensboro, is so well worded that we give it verbatim: On that eventful morning of the lt)thof Scpt.,lS62, under cover of a dense tog, the enemy (800 in all) gained possession of the tow'n to the number of about 400, while aii e([ua] number concealed thenis(.-lves in the wood to the west of o\ir camp, thns placing ns between two foj-ces, eitlmr of which was doubly superior to our own. Our Oolonel ha\-ing received iiiir(.'liable information of the pres- ence of the concealed enemy, at once decided to recotinoiter in tha! dii'cction \vm\ ascertain if the ri'pfrt was true. AVIiili' arranging his force-, a Ihi::' of Irnce was seen ap)>roaching from til'.' direcliiiii "f th- t'uvM. lleiUdtioiU'd fiir ihi !pr:!n-i tu ccnie, and atUanced ji few ]';u-es to nicel h:in. wliei'i' a ~'.k-:\ cMti vers:iii'i:i ensiu'd. lie thcii r(-run!i'd to u^ ■sccMinpanicd 1 ;. the Mtlicer of t'-ncc and wit!i the utmosl 'Hili!enc'>^ and ;i >W'" ;i.elan worked very hard and un- evenly and was soon abandone !. On the 11th, Greneral Boyle ordered Colonel Shanks to refund what he had collected. Dec. 12, Shanks' regiment left for Munifordsville. During this month an ''additional article of.war " was published oy the Government, aiding fugitive slaves; and Colonel John H. Mellenrj-, one of the best soldiers and commanders the Govern- ment ever had, considei-ed the order unjust, unconstitutional and even disloyal. lie therefore, as commander of the Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry, issued an order returning slaves to their mas- ters from his canii). lie was consequently dismissed from his position. lie has ever since then had the sympathy of the D:iviess County public with him. The year l.S()2 closed with gloomy prospects of the war ending; and Jame.^ Weir deliberately reviews the natioiial situation at length in the Monitor. 1S63, Jan. 1, the Iviiaiuiiuition Proclamati(jn dampens the ardor of many Unionirits. President Lincoln had at the beginninii; of his term declared his intention not to interfere with slavery. Jan. 2S. Captain AVihon's company left. Feb. 21, a company from Colonel Foster's regiment from In- diana arrived here. Feb. 22, no packet arriving at Owetiaboi-n: the Government had inii)re.~sed her into military service. March 3, the Logir^lature resolved ••that we iiave witncsse(l with juide the gallant conduct of (volonel .lohn 11. Mellenry, Jr., late couunaTider of the Srxcnteenth Kentucky Volutiteers, and do Digitized by Microsoft® 168 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. heartily endorse and approve the order made by him in October last — construing it, as we do, to mean that he would expel from his lines, and permit their owners to take in possession, all run- away slaves found within his camp." Feb. 2, the House of Kepresentatives unanimously passed a spirited report and resolution, arguing the hardship and injustice of the slavery requirement, and asking the President of the United States to rescind the order dismissing Colonel McHenry; but the Senate, after repeat'^d sessions upon the matter, Feb. 25, passed the foregoing resolution. April. — Guerrillas stealing horses in the county. May 17, J. P. Thompson surrendered himself to Captain Horn- brook in the morning, and was sent off on the Grey Eagle at ten o'clock in the evening. On the same day, Jo Morris, Graham Hughes, Jo Sebree and others were brought in by the Federals as prisoners. May 23, flag presentation to Captain Hornbrook, of the Sev- enty-flfth Indiana, who was a very popular man. June 3, J. E. Grissom, Provost Marshal of this district, ranking as Captain. June 17, town excited over the report that 500 Con- federates were at Hardinsburg. Report proved to be erroneous. About sixty Confederates crossed over into Indiana and were all captured. July 9, town excited about John Morgan at Brandenburg. 12, Colonel Foster and 400 men left up the river. July 28, flag raised on the court-house lot; speech by Wm. B. Wall. July 29, Colo- nel Foster issued an order requiring all persons to take the oath of allegiance at the approaching election who are suspected of dis- loyalty; tlie order was carried out. July 31, martial law declared in this State by General Burnside. jSTo disloyalist to vote or run for office. Oct. 3, Colonel Starling's regiment, the Thirty-Fifth Kentucky, Federal, mustered into service. Oct. 26, J. H. McHenry is Colo- nel and M. Mclntyre Lieutenant-Colonel of the militia. Nov. 24, Company D, of the Thirty-Fifth Kentucky, stationed here in the coui't-honse yard. 1864. — During the sj)ring of this year negro enrolling com- menced, and their freedom from slavery encouraged. Joseph Thomas and several others visited a Jiegro military camp near Indianapolis, foj' the purpose of obtaining indemnity for citizens of Daviess (,\iunty for the loss vi tlieir servants, but tliev Were Digitized by Microsoft® ISTORT OF BAVIESS COUNTY. 169 treated in a very ruffianly manner. Directly before their eyes, one negro loaded a gun and called upon his fellows to join him, saying, with reference to Mr. Thomas particularly, " There goes the d — d rascal who has the papers! Shoot him! G — d d— n him!" Captain Snow, a white man there, said he could not control the ruffianly conduct of the dark soldiery, and he guessed Mr. T. would have to take care of himself. Colonel Russel, who was not there, afterward said that if he had been present he would have prevented such insolence. April 11, Captain Prange and his compaiy left. JSlo soldiers here. April 21, Joseph Thomas received the agency to procure compensation for owners of slaves who had run away and en- listed; but never was a dollar paid for this purpose. April 22, Owensboro citizens expecting guerrillas again to night. Great ex- citement about them. April 22-30, negroes running away in great numbers, crossing the river into Indiana. May 13, fifty-eight men drafted in Daviess County for the Fed- eral service. May 20, citizens of Owensboro watching to-night for guerrillas again. Federal picket fired upon. May 26, Prange's men quartered on Confederate families. May 27-31, negroes enlisting in great numbers; great excitement. They thronged the Provost Marshal's office so boisterously that vio- lence was feared,and they were taken to the fair-ground in a body and sent back to the office in small squads for enlistment. May 8. — About this time some ten or twelve young men from the vicinity attempted the rash act of making their way to the Confederate army, and among them was James T. Mitchell, sixteen or seventeen years of age. On their way thither they encountered the Home Guards of Ohio County, about seven miles from Liver- more, When a skirmish ensued, resulting in the killing of this youth and the capture of Captain Vickers, of Forrest's Cavalry, and sev- eral other soldiers, who had a hearing before Captain Grissom on Sunday evening, and were remanded to jail in Owensboro. The remains of young Mitchell were brought here and appropriately buried. May 20, excitement on account of guerrillas in the county, whose intended depredations were headed off by Captain Grissom calling the Home Guards together and sending out scouting parties. June 1, seventy-eight negro soldiers sent to Louisville. June 5, Captain Howard, with sixty or seventy men arrived. June 6, 165 negroes left on the Grey Eagle. Captain Prange's men killed Digitized by Microsoft® 170 HISTOEY OB' DAVIESS COUNTY. two and wounded two guerrillas. June 13, Prange's company left. Woodward's six-months' men quartered in the court-house. Negroes all left. June 21, no crossing of the river allowed; skiffs all taken out, and boats guarded. June 22, 200 Confederates re- ported in Hawesville and expected here. Those that appeared at Hawesville, however, soon left. June 18. — Powers arrived from Hawesville with about a score of negro recruits on board a small steamer, and marched them to the court-house square, intending to quarter them in the court-house with Colonel Woodward's State Guard of white soldiers; but the latter refused to let them in. Both sides were called to arms, and a light almost ensued. The colored recruits were then quartered in the jail, with nothing to eat, and under locks and bolts for about twenty -four hours. June 23. — Early this morning a squad of forty guerrillas came into Owensboro on the Litchfield road, circled around the cemetery and disappeared out on the Hartford road. Soon afterward a small party of '-graybacks, " bearing a flag of trnce, came into town on Frederica street, demanding, in the name of Jones, the surrender of the place, saying that the town was beleaguered by several hundred Confederate troopa. Colonel Woodward, who had com- mand of the small force of State troops here, declined to surrender. T)ie "Confederates" then retired in the direction of Calhoon. Tlieir pickets were in front of the residences of Messrs. Weir, John- son and GriiHth, and several men were in the fields near Major Smith's house, while the whole body were very near, having come in on the Hartford road. Thev claimed to be 275 strono-, and to be of Adam Johi!son's regiment and Morgan's command. They said they had been in the Gynthiana fight, and come down through Shelbyville and Eardstown, Tkey left the county without doing much damage. After dinner the six-montlis' troops were disbanded, and no sol- diers left in Owensboro. The guns which they left in the court- house (poor ones) were afterward mostly taken by a guerrilla squad- On the 27tli, at night, they took a horse from S. M. Wing. Busi- ness dull; about suspended. Tlie August court ordered to be sus- 1. ended. July ;-). — Ciptiiiii PrH.nge and some 200 men came in, scouting, .lulj 5. t'.\M guurrili.'^is in t..>w:i; stole another horse from Mr. Wing, tnking it tmiu a bug/y , Their names were Tanner and Nave and tli'iy 'vere ciiitured by (Japtain Yarber, nbout four miles out on the Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COONTY. 171 Livennore road, and delivered over to the gun-boat, No. 23 (Sil- ver Lake). Mr. Wing was a merchant, and at one time was Pres- ident of the Owensboro branch of the Southern Bank, principal bank at Hopkinsville. July 6, at a negro ball in the upper end of town in the evening, an attendant sent up a rocket, just for fun, and the commander of the gun-boat, suspecting guerrillas, signaled with a cannon and threw a shell up in that direction, which alarmed the citizens generally, making them believe that guerrillas were, in- deed, in town, and that a bombardment bad commenced. KENTUCKY UNDER MARTIAL LAW. July 1 1, Captain "Wilson brought in " Warren, " a guerrilla, but he was soon released. July 12, sixty men, under Lieutenant Forrest, of the Fifty-Second Kentucky Volunteers (Federal), came in. July 13, Charles Carlin arrested and sent to Louisville; four men killed near Hine's Mill, in Ohio County. July 16, Forrest's men left. July 22, Powell and Thompson, guerrillas, were shot at Henderson, by order of G-eneral Burbridge, in retaliation for the guerrillas killing Colonel Poole, a citizen of that place. By way of rejoinder, Walker Taylor, commander of the guerrillas, issued a proclamation that he would retaliate by MWing four. July 24, guerrillas in the county again; robbed Jesse Potts. During the last days of July, the gun-boat Silver Lake, or No. 23, stood in the river opposite;Owensboro. The packets, before landing, had to land at her side and put the mails off. No tra eling or shipments of produce were allowed except under permit from Captain Coyle, according to the orders of General ^wing prohibiting disloyal persons from shipping or receiving freight of any kind. At tills time negro recruiting went on rather slowly, but their crossing over into Indiana progressed briskly. On boarding Cap- tain Coyle's gun-boat, he said he could not permit them to be taken o^ against their will. While the people generally wished there were no negroes in the State, they hated to see them go in this way. August. — In the early part of this month an Owensboro patrol- man fired at a colored man and missed him, the ball passing near the gun-boat; whereupon the latter fired 100 musket balls along the bank. Aug. i. — Colonel {Bishop and colored soldiers arrived at 11 p. M. Aug. 6, Circuit Clerk locked up his ofiice, as the colored in- Digitized by Microsoft® 172 HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. fantrj had the court-house as quarters. Aug. 8, about 200 negro soldiers came up from Henderson. Aug. 23, 165 more arrived from the same place. Aug. 25, they all left at night. Aug. 15, Captain J. C. Cowin, of the One Hundred and Eighth Colored Infantry, after a little lighting, captured nine guerrillas at Yelving- ton and brought them to Owensboro, where they were con-fin.?d in jail. Aug. 1(5, Captain Yarber arrested, under order of Colonel Bishop, his men disarmed, liorses taken from them, and tliey disbanded. The Captain could show no authority for his proceedings. Aug. 18, Benedict D. Mitchell, the jailer, was shot by mistake by one of the guards, who had orders to shoot any one making his appear- ance in the jail-yard that night. Mr. Mitchell, not knowing that Guch an order had been given, appeared in the yard about 2 o'- clock in tlie morning, for the purpose of attending to some neces- sity. Aug. 27.— OWENSBORO CAPTURED. On tlie afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 27, as unexpectedly as a flash oFliglitning from a clear sky, something over twenty guerril- las, under Captain Bennett, dashed into town. They tirst announced their presence in front of the court-liou^e, by the rapid tiring of revolvers, sometimes in the air and sometimes at fleeing citizens and at store and office doors. They accompanied this demonstra- tion with orders for all persons at once to repair to the court-house yard; and these orders were " sanctioned " with the wickedest pro- fanity. They thus advertised themselves to the guerrillas at once. One follow dashed "horse, foot and dragoon" into Blair, Queen & Co.'s store, driving its customers pell-mell, into the rear yard. Such a stampede, of all classes of people, from the central part of town toward the outskirts was never before nor since witnessed in any other place during the war. It was ludicrous as well as ex- citing. It was remarkable with what agility the people shot out of the back doors and windows of the stores and offices and hid themselves in boxes, barrels, privies, dog kennels, deep weeds, etc. We wish we had space to rehearse some of the " hair- breadth escapes," ludicrous "feats of agility "' and serio-comical situations that wore witnessed on this occasion. The invaders succeeded in huddling 200 or 300 citizens togetlier into the court-house yard. The commander, "Jake Bennett,'' pro- ])osed to burn the court-liouse, and even the banks if their money Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 173 was not given up, but he was dissuaded from it by R. L. Boyd and other citizens. The robbers entered only one store, and that was the jewelry establishment of Mr. Bradford, in care of Mr. Zulauf, from which they took three gold watches, valued at $700. They also took a few horses from Clint. Griffith, Ridgely Griffith and George Smith. Burning of the Wharf-hoat. — But by far the worst thing they did was to burn Messrs. Ayers & Elders' wharf-boat,, with a number of liuman beings confined upon it. They mistakenly supposed that considerable Government freight was upon it The private prop- erty consumed was estimated at about $6,000. Nine colored sol- diers, said to have been the guard that conducted the Yelvington prisoners to Louisville, were at this boat. They first fired at the guerrillas, and then concealed themselves within, for a time; but it is said that three jumped off, ran up the bank and escaped. Two of them were shot by the murderers and thrown overboard, and the charred remains of one more was found on the boat, the fire being extinguished before the hull was consumed. Three negroes took refuge in the hull, and were cut ont by Mr. Ayres after the maraud- ers had left. They pleaded piteously for their lives and declared they were anxious to return to their owners. Lieutenant Walters, pre- viously of the Third Kentucky Cavalry, was killed during the aflfray. A lot of Government stores on the levee were fired just bofore they left, but the most of the property was saved afterward by the citizens. These guerrillas were here but one hour, and they left on the Litch- field road. Aug. 28, the gua-boat Lou Eaves took away many negroes. During this month, according to the Monitor, the negro soldiery in Owensboro behaved very well. Th Court- House. — This was a convenient building for military occupation; and it was wonderful to witness the rapidity with which it was transformed from a civil establishment to a military, and the reverse. When the former change was made, the doors were perforated and disfigured by rude openings to fire muskets through, and were rendered ball-proof from without by heavy oak timbers nailed on the inner side. The windows, to the height of a man's head, were barricaded with planks a foot apart and the space between filled with dirt, leaving openings to fire through. In this work of fortification, all the benches in the court-house were cut up, and other lumber was used. Even the planks were stripped from the fence around the yard. Some ditching was also done about the Digitized by Microsoft® 174 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. yard — for rifle-pits or for a stockade. On the re-occupation of the conrt-house by the civil officers, a day or two only was required to transform all back again to old time appearances. Sept. 7, Colonel Moon and 118 colored troops arrived at the fair- ground. Sept. 11, about 200 negro soldiers went to Henderson. During this month the independent companies, commanded by Captains Wilson, Yarber, Johnson, Little, Boyd and Burger, were dissolved by General Burbridge, because they were acting too much the part of guerrillas. Governor Bramlette had authorized these men to recruit companies for the purpose of clearing this part of the State from guerrillas; but the soldiery became too reckless with the property of peaceable citizens. Yarber and Philpot were par- ticularly implicated. October. — Guerrillas reported in all parts of the county, but the reports were greatly exaggerated. Oct. 10, One Hundred and Eighteenth Colored liegiment left Owensboro. Oct. 11, provos^ marshal's office closed, and marshal left town. Oct. 17. — About half-past two o'clock on the morning of this day, about twenty-five armed men entered town, seized the Sheriff, Jno. G. Harrison, placed him coatless and hatless upon a horse, although the air was biting cold, and took him out on the Litchfield road a few miles, threatening to kill him, but released him about dawn, furnishing him a coat and giving him some instructions as to how he should conduct himself in the future. About $4,500 worth of goods was taken from the merchants. The raid was conducted very quietly. OWENSBOEO TAKEN AGAIN, this time by thirteen regular Confederate soldiers about noon. Most of these were officers, and after they remained here quietly for several hours, the mail packet Morning Star hove in sight, when all was astir. ISTearly 200 additional Confederate soldiers at the same time appeared from the upper part of town, under Major Anderson, intending to take the steamer, believing that negro soldiers were aboard. A few of the soldiers in advance went t the wharf and endeavored to decoy the boat to the landing, but in vain. They fired forty or fifty shots, but only one touched the boat, doing no damage. The Confederates were here about two weeks, but it can liardly be said that they " held " the place. United States officers and State officers all went about their daily routine of duty as uncon- Digitized by Microsoft® o HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 175 cerned as it no enemy waA, within a thousand miles. The Confed- erate soldiery behaved themselves quite well during their sojourn in Owensboro. During the latter part of this month (October) the Confederate Government talked of conscripting here, but the task was never undertaken. Some Federal troops, however, stationed on an island opposite the city, wantonly fired into the place occasionally, and at one time seriously wounded an eight-year-old boy. Nov. 1, three companies of colored soldiers arrived, and quartered in the court-house. Nov. 2, a colored picket killed. 6, a guer- rilla shot J. Taylor's tiegro, robbed and hung up Mr. Cavin (who lived in the country) two or three times, and robbed others in the county. During a war nearly all wicked men are tempted to be robbers, because they can then carry on such work under a sort of military guise and thus elude punishment. Nov. 17. — Thomas S. Pettit, editor of the Owensboro Monit6r^ arrested for disloyalty and sent across the lines, via Memphis, within the bounds of the confederacy. When the facts attending the arrest reached the ears of President Lincoln he pronounced it unjust. Nov. 20, news received that this county was exempt from draft. Great rejoicing. Dec. 20. — A large body of Confederates reported near Ciirdsville. Dec. 22, great excitement about the Confederate soldiers. The Tarascon detained here. Tiie pickets and soldiery under the Confederate Walker Taylor kept up* firing for some time during the afternoon near Owensboro, just southeast of the city. About sunset a flag of truce was sent into the city and a surrender demanded, but it was refused. After .'^pending most of the night sociably witli the Federal officers in the court-house, Major Taylor took his departure, saying tiiat as he had no disposition to injure the town, he declined making any attack. 1865, Jan. 4, the court-house burned by Davidson and his men; the records and furniture mostly saved. Davidson had orders to destroy every court-house that had been occupied by negro troops. Probably two or three other court-houses were burned in the State, under these orders. This destruction was expected, and the county officers Lad time to save ti'e records. Mr. Thomas took all the records of liis office (circuit clerk) and deposited the most of them in the vestibule of the Methodist church, and the rest in Captain flail's buildino-. Tlie other records were taken care of by the re- Digitized by Microsoft® 176 HISTOEl OF DAVIE^ COUNTY. spective officers. The Confederates lia(^ no permission or desire to burn the records. Another account says tiiat a man named Coulter was the Commander-in-chief of the court-hbuse-burning gang, and that he acted without authority from the Confederate Government. He and his men were doubtless a part of Davidson's force. Coulter is said to have been a tall, fine-looking man, trim built, and having very keen eyes. Four revolvers were buckled around him. The Planter's Hotel had also been used as barracks, and it was rumored that it was to be burned also. Coulter was appealed to, and he de- clared with an oath that no more buildings should be burned; and he actually impressed citizens into aiding him to prevent further violence. Davidson was formerly a Federal Captain in Colonel J. H. Mc- Henry's regiment, the Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry. He re- signed and went into the Southern army and became a guerrilla. He was a very violent man, and made himself notorious by acts of felony and arson in this portion of Kentucky. At one time he was arrested, carried to Louisville and placed in prison; but he imme- diatejy made his escape and came down into this section, where he contihued his mischief A few days after he burned the Owens- boro court-house he was killed in a skirmish with Federal soldiers in Bteckenridge County, Ky. He was a fearless and brave man. His father was Dr. H. A. Davidson, of Hawesville, who killed himself in an abortive attempt to blow up a Mr. Sterrett with an " infernal machine. " Jan. 11. — In the morning the steamer Grey Eagle arrived at Owensboro with a detachment of Federal troops, the Twenty-seventh Kentucky, under Colonel "Ward, sent there for the purpose of driv- ing out the guerrillas. When the boat landed a body of these guerrillas immediately made their appearance on the top of the bank for this purpose of attempting the capture of the boat, the Federals being kept out of sight on purpose to deceive them. "When they had nearly reached the boat our troops suddenly made their appearance in the engine-room and commenced an attack. The cowardly guer- rillas immediately commenced skedaddling in all directions, hotly pursued by the Union troops. Four were captured, and quite ^num- ber wounded, among them a son of "Walker Taylor. On the "Wed- nesday following the guerrillas were reinforced, made a dash on the Federal pickets, and drove them in. Jan. 21 ^ packets all engaged in taking Government troops up the river. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTV. ;J^77 Feb. 4, Amos ivletcalf killed Chandler, a guerrilla, at Knotts- ville. Feb. 15, Colonel Birge, Federal, with a part of the Eight- eenth Kentucky Cavalry arrived, and the Twenty-seventh Ken- tucky left. Feb. IS, 100 men of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry arrived. Metcalf's men captured by Davidson and paroled. A.pril 1, guerrillas killed a soldier. April 6, drafting in this district. 8, small-pox among the soldiers. April 9, a company of the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Ohio arrived, under Captain Edmiston. April 10, news received of Lee's surrender at Ap- pomattox, Ya. ; bonfires and illuminations in the evening, be- cause "this cruel war was over," and not particularly because one party: had conquered the other. April 15, draft suspended. May. — Confederates returning home nearly every day. 11, some guerrillas near town. May 28, Colonel Sam. Johnson and his sol- diers arrived. Sept. 6, a company of negro soldiers arrived. Sept. 25, negro soldiers lefl; no soldiers of any kind remaining. Oct. 31, six guerrillas reported at ^' Ivington. March 9, 1871, Congress }?n52ed ' 'I.l ci'^i-eery's disability bill," which, auiGTlg lliany from other States, relieved from political disabilities the following Daviess County citizens: Geo. W. Trijj- lett, Charles S. Todd, Jr., John P. Thompson, J. O. Shott, Thomas C. Jones, Graham Hughes, Baker Boyd, T. E. Crutcher, and William H. Clark. COMPANY A, FIRST KENTUCKY CAVALRY. This company was formed of Daviess County men, and served in the Confederate army. Sept. 30, 1861, Dr. C. T. Noel was elected Captain; W. J. Taylor, First Lieutenant; T. C. Jones, Second Lieutenant; and Joseph Yewell, Third Lieutenant. Dr. Noel was a prominent citizen. He was a candidate for the Legislature in 1861, but was defeated by Geo. H. Teaman. During the war Mr. Taylor became Captain. The next morning after organization, this company reached Rough Creek, four miles above its mouth, where they feared their •passage would be disputed by Federal troops, who occupied Cal- iioon and Hartford. But they succeeded in reaching Eussellville, where they saw for tlie first time an organized Confederate force. Here, Oct. 5, they were mustered into the army for three years, or during the war. They were first ordered to Bowling Green, where General Buckner had concentrated the bulk of his army, and was fortifying his position and drilling his troops. Here thej were I'oined to the First Kentucky Cavalry, under Colonel Ben Hardin 12 Digitized by Microsoft® 178 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS COITNTT. Helm, who was afterward killed. The pompany was subjected to rigid military discipline, and during the ensuing winter several sickened and died — among them Ignatius McDaniel, Wm. Jones and Thomas Lackland. From Bowling Green they went to Glas- gow, where they spent their first Christmas in camp. Company A engaged in all the battles and hardships which the regiment suffered during the war, which were many and severe. "Would that we had space to record them all here, as well as the names of those who fell on the battle-iield and in camp, never again to appear alive in the presence of their families and friends. " SUE MUNDAY. " Marcus Jerome Clarke, alias " Sue Munday, " was a noted guer- rilla Captain during the last civil war, and once appeared upon he streets of Owensboro, in female attire, with long hair, etc. He was a nephew of Beverly L.Clarke, a Kentucky statesman of Simp- eon County. Sue Munday was a lively and mischievous guerrilla, although it isnotknowii that he committed any depredations in Daviess County. His headquarters were principally about Chaplintown and Bloom- field. He committed many acts of depredation and murder in various portions of the State. Mar. 12, 1865, he and Captain Billy Magrnder and Henry Metcalfe, other notorious guerrillas, were capt- ured near Webster, Breckenridge County, by a company of Fed- erals, and taken to Louisville, 'where Munday and Metcalfe were convicted of murder, and sentenced to be hung. Munday was ex- ecuted at the age of only twenty years. Metcalte, through the inter- cession of his attorney. Colonel John H. McHenry, of Owensboro, had his sentence commuted to imprisonment for five years in the State penitentiary. He was soon afterward released, and is now a respectable citizen of Ohio County. Magrnder had been danger- ously wounded Feb. 28, and, after remaining in a military hospital for some time, he was tried, found guilty of murder, and executed Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER VII. MATERIAL PROGRESS. Tlie progress which a community makes in material resobrees and wealtli cannot be exhibited in any way except by tabulated results, so that a fair comparison can be made. Hence this chap- ter is mostly statistical, and is designed rather for reference than lor continuous reading. The increase of population necessarily comes in this connection, so that one can see what a given number of people can acconiplisli trom time to time, under the varying circumstances. The census, tlierefore, naturally comes first, in the presentation of this subject. POPULATION or DAVIESS COUNTY. 1820 1830 1840: Whites 6,327 Slaves 1,960 Free colored 44 1850: Whites 9,419 Slaves 2,889 Free colored 54 .3,870 .5,209 8,331 1860: Whites 11,958 Slaves 3,515 Free colored 76 1870: -15,549 Whites 17,111 Free colored 3,60! 1880: ■ 20,714 12,363 CENSUS OF 1880, IN DETAIL. Whites 22,008 Free colored 4,528 -26,536 Lower Town . Upper Town. YelviDgton. .. Kaottsville .. Boston Ciirdsville . . Murray Vanover Oakford Masonville . . Sorghotown. . White. Bl'cks.iMales. Kerns. Total. 3,301 5,2.50 1,534 2,448 1,497 3,370 1,618 1,293 924 808 920 1,316 1,544 346 64 15 134 381 18 375 129 206 2,321 3,413 1,054 1,280 779 1,267 1,035 679 685 436 600 22,008 4,528 13,499 13,037 36,536 2,396 3,381 876 1,227 733 1,237 964 632 614 451 526 4,617 6,794 1,930 2,507 1,512 3,504 1,909 1,311 1,209 937 1,136 But the census of this year, published shortly afterward as "offi- cial," gave the following totals: (.179) Digitized by Microsoft® 180 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. KG. OF PUBCINXT. POP. 1. Lower Town,includ.Owensb'o 8,355 3. Upper Town, " " 3,698 y. Yelvington 1,934 4. Knotlsville 3,024 5. Boston 1,014 0. Murray 2,041 7. Curdsville , 2,559 8. Vanover 1,418 9. Oakford 1.376 10. Masonville 949 11. Sbrghotbwn 1,163 CITY AND VILLAGES. Owensboro 6,231 Yelvington 172 Knottsville 157 Whitesville 309 Delaware 83 West Louisville 92 Masonville 41 Curdsville 197 Very little conlidence, however, is placed in the foregoing returns. The Directory of 1882 contains 2,898 names for Owens- boro, which, multiplied by four (tlie universal rule), gives 11,592 for this city and its suburbs. Again, in the above table, Oakford is made to contain fifty per cent, more inliabitants than Masonville, which is certainly a great error. In 1873 Daviess County was the fifth in the State in point of population. AGRICULTURAL CENSUS. In 1850 there were 1,292 farms in the county and 1,631 dwell ings. In 1846 the valuation of taxable property was $2,558,592; in 1870, $7,825,750. Number of acres of [land in 1870, 262,758, valued at $18.36 per acre. Yahie per acre in 1846, §4.20. CENSUS OF 1867. White males over 31 3,040 White children between 0 and 30.5,089 Value of taxable land $4,586,285 Horses and mares 5,584 Their value . ; $435,650 Mules 1,011 Their value $81 ,920 Cattle over $50 8,481 Their value. $00,346 Stores 117 Value of merchandi-e ^366,5."i0 Hogs over .six months old 13,783 Pounds of tobacco, crop of 1867 3,393,670 Tons of hay, crop of 1867 3,22.') Bushels of corn, crop ot 1867. . .855,T80 Bushels of wheat, crop of 1807 . 48,545 Total value subject to taxa- tion $7,779,735 During the year 202 sheep had been killed by dogs. At this time Daviess was tl»e ninth county in the State in point of wealth. CENSUS OF 1868. Number. Acres of land ^ 280,846 Town lots, about 750 Horses and mares, 5,463 JIules \'.o-i~) Cattle 8,384 Stores no Carriages Gold and silver plate \\\ Pianos Val ue $4,537,255 1,479,005 437,700 83,335 03,800 250,800 53,655 10,010 18,990 Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. ISl Total revenue tax $23,795 White males over 21 3,017 Enrolled militia 2,010 Children between 0 and 20 5,008 Negroes 1,474 Hogs over six months old 13,525 Sheep killed by dogs 283 Pounds of tobacco 2,802,850 Tons of hay 3,153 Bushels of corn 860,875 Taxable property owned by negroes |37,1 10 CENSUS OF 1S69. The principal variations from the previous year were as follows: Enrolled militia 3,264 Number of hogs 12,485 Number of blind persons 2 Number of dumb persons 1 Sheep killed by dogs 337 Pounds of tobacco raised 0,298,850 Bushels of corn raised 962,170 Bushels of wheat raised 39,410 Negroes between 6 and 20 .704 Taxable property owned by negroes $52,760 Jury fund , $3,686 Number of deeds recorded ". 647 Other things generally were from five to fifteen per cent, greater, in keeping with the growth of the country. In 1870 there were 6,032 horses in the county, 858 mules, 7,890 cattle, and 11,236 hogs over six m.onths old. This year there were also 1,386 farms and 125 productive establishments. TOBACCO CROP. lbs. lbs. 1869 6,818,400 1870 8,493,600 1871 6,653,555 1866 5,400,950 1867 2,802,850 1868 6,298,85" CORN CROP, bushels. bushels. 1866 925,935 1867 860,875 1868 960170 1869 773,275 1870 1,083,680 1871 1,092,505 WHEAT CROP, bushels. bushels. 1866 30,605 1867 48,045 1868 39,410 1869 70,060 1870 64,365 1871 81,693 HAT CROP. tons. tons. 1866 1,972 1867 3,153 1868 2,662 1869 3,254 1870 4,804 1871 8,328 After giving the above figures. Judge Triplett adds: "Daviess Digitized by Microsoft® 182 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. may be set down as the largest tobacco-growing county in tlie State. Our corn crop for 1870 was perhaps the largest ever grown in the county; but our people are far behind many counties ii: their hay crop." The great staples are corn and tobacco. About 1,500,000 bushels of corn would be considered a full crop for a good season. The largest crop of tobacco ever grown was raised in 1872, and mar- keted in 1873. It is known by tobacco men as the crop of 1873, and amounted to 12,087,000 pounds. The same year the corn crop was 1,300,000 bushels. In a fair average season the tobacco crop averages about ten pounds of tobacco to each bushel of corn. The land is peculiarly adapted to timothy, red clover, red top and orchard grass, and the rich hilly lands produce fine blue grass. In fact, bine grass seems to be spreading, or spontaneously growing over nearly every part of the county. Wheat, rye, oats and bstrley generally do well, the wheat crop occasionally averaging twenty bushels per acre, and not unfrequently an individual crop runs over thirty bushels per acre. Potatoes and all vegetables of the climate are cultivated with success. About 900 pounds of tobacco and forty bushels of corn are fair average crops per acre. W. S. Stone once raised 123 bushels of corn per acre on a field of twelve acres, thirteen miles below Owensboro, on the Ohio River. The ground was accurately surveyed and the corn correctly measured. THE DAVIESS COUNTY AGRIOULTUKAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION was first organized -about 1850; had its annual fairs with more or less success until about the beginning of the civil war, when it was neglected. After the war a new company was formed, with the same or a similar name, borrowed $35,000 and bought and fitted up grounds near the new cemetery. These grounds comprised about twenty-five acres, and were by nature possessed of a beautiful alternation of cleared land and forest. The people were energetic and took sp^3cial pride in furnishing and ornamenting the place; several counties participated. At the first fair, iu the fall of 1866, 5,000 to 6,000 people were present, at least four days out of the five. Many horses from other counties were on exhibition, as well as some fine cattle and sheep; but there were no hogs. On the first day there was a splendid dis- play of quilts, jeans, linseys and agricultural products. Also of garden and field products, needle-work, domestic manufactures, fine arts, etc., vying with any previous fair in the State. On the second day was the exhibition of cattle, sheep, mules, draft and Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 183 fine horses. On the third day tine horses constituted the principal show; in the afternoon lady equestrianship. An elegant $50 saddle was awarded the best lady rider. There were fonr contes- tants. In the gentlemen's equestrian ring there were sixteen entries. The programme of the fourth day was similar to tiiat of the third. On tlie fifth and last day, gentlemen's riding and tournament .of the Seven Knights. The usual dissents from the decisions of the judges were ex- pressed. The lady equestrianism was fine. The weather was beautiful throughout the time of the fair, and many visitors were present who had never before attended a fair. Says the Monitor: " There were so many agreeable incidents that we despair oi giving our readers an idea of this pleasant 'reunion' of friends and acquaintances, many of whom had not seen each other since they were separated by war's rude alarum. Not an event occurred to mar the harmony of the exhibition." Music was furnished by the Louisville Silver Band. Aristocratic hops were given at night. All was jollity, Fasting and mirth, light wantonness and laughter. Till life fled from us like a sweet dream. Tlie proceeds of this fair yielded a handsome net profit to the society. Nov. 7, 1866, Clinton Griffith was elected President and Phil. T. Watkins, Secretary. The fair of 1867 was held the second week in October, and was even better, in nearly all respects, than that of the previous year. Receipts, $6,000. The Louisville Star Brass Band furnished the music. Among the little curiosities was a miniature steamboat, made from cornstalks by a colored boy fifteen years old, a servant of Captain Belt, of Livermore. The model and workmanship was perfect. The fair of Oct. 9-13, 1870, was also quite successful. The weather was damp on the first day, but fine during the rest of the term. A large number of visitors were present from abroad. The fair of Oct. 8-12, 1872, was another success, the weather being fine. The proceeds were sufficient to pay all expenses, be- sides interest on the debt and a surplus. Many visitors were here from abroad. Dr. W. S. Woolfolk, President. The other fairs, not mentioned above, were generally not so well patronized, and the expenses on the whole were rather greater than the receipts, so that, by the year 1874, the fair grounds were sold, to satisfy a claim of $s,000. A third company was then formed, Digitized by Microsoft® 1^4 Hi~i<>i;v i>i- ii.\\i>,~- 'rx]-!". This wii;^ a juint stock assor-i.-iti'Mi, i>>niiiu- seventy-live sharci. ;it $ln() eacli, which were reailily t;iiic.lent; Dr. C. li. Todd. \'ice- Prosident; Ed. T. Moorman, Secretary; P. T. AVatkms, Treasurer, and a Board of Directors. The limit of memhershij; ^vas fixed at l(tO. Eiglity-two had enrolled their names, most of whom had also paid in twentj'-five per cent, of their subscription. .-V constitution and by-laws were adopted. Their first fair, Oct. 6-10, 1871, was well patronized. The ladies especially made their respective departments a great success. The fair of 1877, the second week of (Jctober, was the largest ever hold on the grounds, and the exhibition was better in all re- spects. The fair of 1878, the first week in October, was favored with a finer exhibition of stock than had ever before been shown in the Green River region. Pecuniarily this fair was a satisfactory one. Of the fair of 1880, the first day was beautiful; but the weather the other four days was generally so unfavorable that the receipts fell short of what were anticipated. Had the weather remained good, the company would probably have cleared about S2,0n0. The fair of Oct. 5-8, ISSl, was largely attended. The amphi- theater, which holds 10,00ii people, was, on the principal day, crowded to its utmost. The hosre-racing on this occasion was very exciting. The whole week passed ofi' pleasantly and profitably. The fair of 1882 was a grand success. On the last day the re- ceipts were larger than ever before in the history of the company. DAVIESS COUNTY FARMEKS' CLl'B. At a meeting of the farmers of this county, at the court-house April 10, 1869, for the purpose of organizing a farmers' club. Dr. J. Q. A. Stewart was called to the chair, and H. P. Tompkins elected secretary. A committee C)f five was ajipointed to draft suitable resolutions and provide for a permanent organization, and report at the next meeting, on the 24th. The appointed day arrived, and the (.-oinmittee made their report. A constitution and by-laws were adopted. The object of the asso- ciation was declared to be " to advance the ireneral interest of atrri- culture in this portion of Kentucky; to spread intelligence of the markets for stock and other farm prudnets, and by mutual consul- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 185 tation protect their interest against undue advantage being taken of them ; to bring together the experience as to the best method of cultivating the various crops; of breeding and raising stock; of the various descriptions of the best farming implements; and em- bracing also the interests of horticulture, fruit-raising, the dairy, etc. " For the ensuing year John H. McFarland was unanimously elected President; J. Q, A. Stewart, Vice-President; H. P. Tomp- kins, Secretary; A. C. Sutherland, Corresponding Secretary, and Camden Riley, Treasurer. The regular meetings of the club were to be at che eourt-house, on the last Saturday of each month, at 1 p. m. ®ie llbur arrived for the .first meeting under the permanent orgailte«>ion, and the club met. Tiie most important business transacted was unani- mously to adopt a resolution recommending the " Farmers' Home Journal, " published at Lexington, Ky. At the next meeting, June 26, the attendance was slim, owing to the busy season among farmers. An exciting discussion was had, however, over a I'esolution for conferring with parties in the North- ern States with reference to the labor system. The resolution was laid on the table. The cultivation of Indian corn was chosen for discussion at the next meeting. Having no further accounts of the meetings of this club, we presume that its death took place soon after the above date, and that there were not many friends present when it died! DAVIESS COUNTY SOEGHO SUGAR COMPANY. In the winter of 1868-'9a company was formed with the above name, for the purpose of manufacturing sugar from sorgho; and on Jan. 20, 1869, a committee, consisting of Dr. J. Q. A. Stewart, J. Balee and E. Guthrie, reported that they had seen very good sugar made from the juice of the sorgho cane, and that its manu- facture was practicable; but from some cause the enterprise was never pushed on to success. Since the modern process for whiten- ing cane sugar and for the manufacture of glucose have been brought to such perfection, sorgho (or sorghum) manufacture can not compete with them. IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN LABOR. Jan. 1, 1863, on the emancipation of the slaves of the seceding States, wages for manual labor went up to an intolerable height. Digitized by Microsoft® 186 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Negro farm hands demanded $200 to $250 a year, and cooks $25 to $125. At the close of the war, when greenbacks were more plentiful than specie, and the negroes about all free, the prices of labor rose to an alarming extent. An effort was therefore made by several philanthropic citizens, foremost of whom was C. R. Milne, to induce immigrants from Scotland. Su bscriptions were raised, and the assistance of Henderson County promised, with a view of sending over an agent to Scotland to encourage immigra- tion to Kentucky. Mr. Milne promised to give his time if the citizens would bear his expenses for a trip to the old country for this purpose; Ufit the whole project was finally dropped, through sheer neglect, before any immigration was effected. GREEN RIVER NAVIGATION. The first act for improving the navigation of Green River was passed Feb. 16, 1808. It laid upon the several County Courts, through or by which the navigable portion of Green River passed the responsibility of clearing out that stream and keeping it iu navigable condition, requiring overseers annually, in July, August and September, to " work it " with hands from the neighborhood, namely, to remove all fish-pots, all dams not erected under authority of the Legislature, and all logs; to cut aijd clear away all project- ing timber; to shrub all points of islands, and to remove any other obstructions in the channel. Hands were "exonerated by the pay- ment of seventy-five cents per day." An amendatory act Jan. 10, 1811, declared the navigable part of the river to be that below the mouth of Knob Lick Creek, in Casey County, which a year later was changed to that below the Adair County line. The navigation of Green and Barren rivers was the first to seriously engage the attention of the State. In 1833, $526 was expended upon it in surveys; in 1831, $15,272 was expended for engineering ar.d works upon the locks; and in 1835, $40,033— all this before any expenditures were incurred upon other rivers. The total estimated cost, in 1831, of four locks and dams in Green River and one in Barren River, was $290,988, or within a fraction of $862 per mile. This system of improvement embraced 180 miles in Green and Barren rivers connectedly, thirty miles in Green River above the mouth of Barren, thirty in Muddy River, nine in Pond River, and nineteen in Rough Creek — 268 miles in all. A lock in Rough Creek, to cost $14,891, would extend the navigation up to Hartford, Ohio County, a little over twenty-eight Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 187 miles from its month; and a lock in Pond River, to cost $15,340 would extend its navigation to thirty miles. The total anioimt paid by the State for these works up to Nov. 20, 1837. was $243,194:, while less than one third this amount was paid on all the other rivers together. The total amount expended to complete the permanent navigation upto BowlingGieen, requiring four locks in Ureen and one in Barren river, was $859,126.79, which included $34,055 for hydraulic lime. In thirteen out of twenty-three years, 1843-'65, small dividends were realized by the State from this line of navigation — from $32 in 1859 to $5,610 in 1855; but more than these sums were paid back for repairs in other years, namely, $4,811.07 — the gross ex- penditures being $2«9,813.66, and the gross receipts, $265,002.59. The cost of the improvements turned out to be nearly five times the estimate. Lock and dam No. 2 was let in January, 1834, and its gates opened December, 1837. The rest were completed by 1842. The present GREEN AND BARREN RIVER NAVIGATION COMPANY was organized about 1868. consisting of Jolin Eobinson, "Wm. H. Payne, O. P. Johnson, D. R. Haggard, F. M. Allison, A. C. Turner, H. C. Murray, John V. Sproule, E. B. Seeley, W. S. Vanmeter. C. J. Yanmeter, Wm. Brown, and M. D. Hay. A thirty-year charter was granted this company by the Legislature, on condition that they at the expiration of their charter would turn over the river to the State in as good condition as they found it. The company represented to the Legislature that the river was an expense to the State, and thus secured the grant of adroitly worded franchises. Tlio river aotuaih^ had always yielded a net revenue to the State, but there was an apparent loss during the war, owing to an unawarded claim; and this fact was " made the most of" by the raiders, who obtained their deceptive charter and proceeded to carry out a perfect monopoly of G-reen River navigation. "When this chicanery was discovered about ten years afterward, an attempt was made in the Legislature to revoke the charter, but failed. A renewed attempt was made at the next session, lS79-'80 which was sustained by both branches of the Legislature. The company, however, refused to give possession of the rivers, and the State brought suit in the Franklin Circuit Court for recovery, and obtained a decision in its favor; but the ease was referred to Digitized by Microsoft® 1*^'^ niSToKY OF DAVIESS COUNTT. tlie Court cif Appeals, whicli reversed this decision, holding that the Legislature eonld not revoke the chai'ter. In order to manipulate tlie court, the company succeeded in getting a man placed upon the judicial bench who had been an attorney for them in all their lawsuits. The corporators were men of wealth and influence. In the Legislature of 18Sl-'2, another effort was made to remedy the evil, in a manner quite different from the preceding, but before the bill reached the House the Legislature adjonrned; and thus the matter stands at the present writing (February, 1883). The present corporators are: G. G. Smallhouse, E. B. Seeley, John A. Robinson, "Wm. H. Payne, John V. Sproule and W. S. and C. J. Yanmeter. Dr. S. W. Combs, a member of the com- pan}', died last fall. THE DAVIESS COrXTV GRAVEL ROAD COMPANIES. About 1855 a stock company was organized to build a plank road toward Liveriaore; but after ]>laiiking live miles, they com- pleted their wm-k as a gravel road company, placing about nine inches of gravel on the track to a distance of twelve miles from Owensboro. Tliis has proved to be a great improvement, well repaying the cost. The present company was organized in the spring of 1882, in- corporated as a stock company, to gravel all the eastern roads in the vicinity of Owensboro for a distance of five miles out. They fixed the shares at $50, of which 3.50 were taken. They iiave supplied three miles of road with gravel, and their enterprise promises to pay liberal dividends, from receipts at the toll gate. J. W. M. Field is the President and Plugh A. Williams, Secretary. Board of Directors— M. V. Monarch, J. W. M. Field, Allan Reid, J. H. Bell and G. W. Williams. TELEOEAPH. Loii.lifv'Ue o.nd OnusnHhoro Tdegr'iph Company. — May 4, 186fi, at ii meeting held in this city, $50 was ordered to constitute a jiliare, and each share one vote. B. Bransford was elected Presi- dent. C. B. Hicks, Secretary, and W. B. Tyler, Treasurer. Aboard of directors sviis also elected. X. ]\r. Booth was chosen Snyjerin- tendent of the lirie. The president and directors were given full power to ci.uitract for the construction of the line, call a meeting of the stockholders in certain ca'^es, etc., complete control of the line b('in2 i>iitC'f"i in tlieii' hat>ds. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 189 This company commenced building their line in April, 1866, and completed it the next year — the first telegraph line ever built in Daviess County. This telegraph was operated until the winter of 1873-4:, when it was abandoned. Owensboro c& Evansville Telegraph Company was organized in September, 1875, as a stock association, with a capital of $2,500, shares at $50. James Weir was elected President and John W. Porter, Secretary, Treasurer and Superintendent. The stock was immediately taken, and the line at once put up, and business com- menced. In the summer of 1876 they entered iito a contract with the Western Union Telegraph Company, since which time they have co-operated. Present officers: S. D. Kennady, President; John W. Porter, same offices as at the first. It will be inferred from the foregoing facts that Mr. Porter is the prime mover and sup- porter of the present telegraph facilities which Owensboro enjoys. RAILROADS. In the present age railroads are the main factors of cities and towns, and a general prosperity itself. Woe unto that town or community that is left out in the cold by the contests of money kings and railroad giants! In this respect Daviess County has been rather unfortunate, not having a railroad until 1870, and but a small piece of one at that. It seems, however, to be not the fault of the people here, but the natural result of stock manipulations among lovers of money, blind often to their own pecuniary interests. In 1826 a railway was built by Robert Triplett, three quarters of a mile iu length, from the Bo/; Harbor Hills to the Ohio River, — the first built in Kentucky and probably the first in the West. It was probably operated by mule-power. A railroad was proposed from Owensboro to Callioon as early as 1848, and stock was taken in it by a number of individuals; but a proposition for aid or right of way being submitted to -the people, it was voted down by a heavy majority; and thus ended railroad scheming in this county for many j'ears. OWENSnoEU & NASQVILLK RAILROAD. Jan. 10, 1806, the Owensboro Monitor formally opened out iu favor of a railroad south to Callioon, as a means not only of build- ing up Owensboro, but of even keeping it up to the level it had attained among sister towns. Two weeks afterward it still further Digitized by Microsoft® l'*0 HISTORY OF DA\-li;ss COUXTY. urijed tlie advantages of a railroad, both to the company building it and to Owensbovo and the couiitrv ar(mnil j^enerally. In subse- quent i^sa•:•s correspondents supported tl-e editor in his earnest appeal.'. Nov. [} following a meeting of the citizens of Owensboro was lield, when Dr. W. D. Stirman was chosen Chairman and G. W. Ray, Secretary. A committee was appointed to secure a revision, by the Legislature, of the old charter of the Russellville & Owens- boro Company, approved March 2, ISfiO, and another committee was appointed to ask aid from the city of Owensboro, through the Council. Dec. 3, at a meeting of the citizens of Muhlenburg County at Green ville, a request was published for a general meeting (jf parties all along the line to take place at Greenville; and ac- cordingly about seventy-five represer)tative citizens were appointed by Daviess County mass-meeting at Owensboro Dec. 15, to attend in a body the general convention at Greenville, to devise means and awaken a common interest for an early completion of the rail- road. The delegation attended, and reported favorable progress. The people of McLean and Muhlenburg counties wanted to trade with Owensboro, and therefore were largely interested in the road. Not only farm produce, stock and lumber, but also coal in vast quantities were to be shipped. During the spring of 1867 addresses were delivered to the people of the county by Messrs. McIIenry, Hardin, Arch and Isaac Sutherland, Triplett, Sweeney, Weissinger, Taylor, Jones, Cray- croft, Sims and Elliott, urging the people to vote for the county taking $250,000 stock in the railroad, which they did April 16, giving 437 majority in the county, and 921 in Owensboro, for the stock. A few days afterward the commissioners appointed a board of canvassers for every precinct to secure subscription of stock, which was taken in $25 shares. The commissioners for Daviess County were Dr. W. A. Hickman, T. B. Hardin, H. W. Scott, Geo. W. Swoope and Dr. W D. Stirman. In September Dr. Hick- man was elected President, A. L. Ashby, Secretary, and T. S. An- derson, Treasurer, and every department of the business set in operation. Meanwliile Hon. T. C. McCreery and Camden Riley opposed the enterprise as proposed, and in October, 1S67, the County Crout declined also to lend its aid. But the friends of the road wcn^ on with the work. Den. 30 a mass meeting of the citizens of Owensboro adopted Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COrKTY. 191 resulntions favoring the bill pending before the Legislature pro- viding for State aid to railroads. Jan. 18, 1868, S. D. Kennady and John T. Brooks reported the results of a reconnoissance along the proposed route of the road, which were very encouraging to the enterprise. In February the directory employed N. M. Lloyd as their chief engineer. May 6, James Weir was elected President; A. L. Ashby, Secretary and Col- lector; W. B. Tyler; Treasurer. The other directors were S. M. Wing, C. Riley, Benj. Bransford, S. D. Kennady, F. L. Hall, W. A. Hickman and Clinton Griffith. S. Gordon was employed as surveyor. Stockholders were at this time slow in paying their assessments (which were generally five per cent.), and much ex- hortation was resorted to by the officers and friends of the enter- prise. June 17, 1868, Chief Engineer Lloyd reported in detail the estimated cost of the two proposed routes to Bussellville, making that via Calhoon $1,059,554, and that via Livermore $979,872; distance via Calhoon, 47.36 miles, and via Livermore, 41.81 miles; the cost through Daviess County, by the first named route, $188,196; by the other, $232,956. Sept. 8, the directors accepted the Livermore route, as the people on that line, especially of Livermore Precinct, paid more on the stock. By November a suf- ficient amount cf stock had been paid in to insure the completion of the road to Greenville. Feb. 27, Logan County voted $500,000 for the road, and other friends proposed to add $100,000 more. At this time all the people along the route were considerably in- terested, expecting the road to be bnilt as far at least as Bowling Green. By the last of April $1,425,485 had been subscribed, but some of this was conditional; and the reason that grading had not commenced long before was, the directory felt in honor bound to wait a reasonable length of time for the people to say how much they would give for tlie different routes, so that the line could be precisely located, the highest bidders to win. On the third of May, 1869, however, grading commenced on the Livermore route. In the Monltof of June 23, 1869, appeared a very careful, de- tailed statement of the resources of this county, and of the matur- ity of the bonds of $250,000 voted, interest, etc., by which any one could foresee to the end all the pecuniary responsibilities of the enter})rise. During the summer and fall of 1869 and the winter and spring following, the work of construction went steadily on; and in April, Digitized by Microsoft® 192 HISTOEV OF DAVIKSS COUNTY. 1870, President Weir went East and purchased iron, engines and rolling stock. Track-laying coniiuenced in July following. In the Monitor of June 8, 1870, Mr. Weir published a full state- ment of the condition of the road and of tlie history of the various contracts. At this time the line had not been located south of Green River, owing to the unsettled condition of some of the subscriptions along the route. July 14, 1870, the fine locomotive "Jo Daveiss, " was landed at the Owensboi'o wharf. It was built at the Baldwin works, Phila- delphia, at a cost of $11,325, and weighed 49,000 pounds. On its being landed here a large assembly of the citizens gathered at the wharf to welcome the friendly stranger. On this day other equip- ments for th'^, road^'arrived. During this season, the summer of 1870, the railroad from Rockport to Cincinnati was under good headway in construction. Oct. 5, 1870, the directors located the line of the road south of Green River, by way of South CarroUton. Feb. 15, 1S71, a fine passenger coach, built at Jeffersonville, reached Owensboro, to be placed at once on the road. March 2, the first excursion was given, which carried the passengers over fourteen miles of road, Mr. Ashburn being the engineer. At this time track-laying was progressing at the rate of half a mile a day. April 14, an excursion of about 600 ladies and gentlemen was made to Livermore — this constituting the formal opening of the road for business to that point. The excursion was a grand and joyful pic- nic, unmarred by accident. In October, 1871, President Weir contracted for the graduation of the entire route through Logan County, from the Muhlenburg County line to the Tennessee State line — a distance of thirty miles. In the Monitor of Feb. 7, 1872, an anonymous correspondent an- nounced as news that the Owensboro & Russellville Railroad was but a link in one of the most important north and south lines of railroad in the United States— a line from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico, through the best part of the couhtry. The road was completed and put in operation under the super vision of the following efficient Board of Directors: James Weir, President; R. S. Bevier, Vice-President; Robert Browder, George R. Bibb, S. D. Kennady, J. W. Belt, D. M. Griffith and Camden Rilev. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 193 July 31, 1872, President "Weir published to the stockholdera the condition and prospects of the road. He had employed a steamer to run in the pool on Green River, between the town of Calhoon and the mouth of Mud Hiver, a distance of fortj'^-seven miles; but the boat could not be retained. The business of the road up to this date had been very good, even exceeding the anticipations of the board. The road was now running to Stroud City, making connection with the Elizabethtown & Paducali Railroad. Up to Oct. 1, 18T2, there had been expended in tlie construction of the O. & K. Road, $1,406, 118. The money market being somewhat stringent in this country, the bonds were sent to Europe. In the Monitor of Jan. 29, 1873, President Weir published again the condition of the railroad, showing that all went on economi- cally, and satisfactorily to all who knew the facts, notwithstand- ing tlie carping criticisms of sundry anonymous correspondents of the press. From Owensboro to Livermore the road and its equip- ments, including machine-shops, depots and station-houses, had cost $355,422.75; iron bridge over Green River, $106,827.62; from Livermore to the junction with the E. & P. Road, fifteen miles, $399,084.87; from the last point to the northern line of Logan County, eighteen miles, $238,185.87; from thereto the Tennessee State line, thirty-two miles, $344,982,54. From the junction to the State line the road was not completed; and it was estimated that $90,000 more would prepare it for track-laying. About these times (1873) tlie well-remembered stringency of business set in, and all railroad construction throughout the LTiiited States ceased. Scarcely anj'thing. therefore, was done on this road, much less on any other route, until 1878, when another m.ovemont was inaugurated for completing this road to Russell- ville. The road had already, during the seven years of its exist- eTice, reduced freight? from Louisville to about two thirds or less, u'ld during that time Owenshuro had about doubled in population and wealth. These facts served as a foundation for the propriety of voting an additional tax to finish the road, but of course this movement met with some op])osition. The proposition, however, to vote an additional tax of $50,000 upon the city of Owensboro, was carried on June 1, 1878, by 7.o() votes, this number being ninetv-thruo more than the requisite majority of the qualified voters. During the summer the directory oncludcd to issue $350,000 twfinty-year six per cent, bonds, with a mortgage on the entire la Digitized by Microsoft® ly-t llIST'iHY OF '.'.Wlh^ii i;r,UNTV. rdi'.road, and <^-;inraiitee thy c-uinpletioii uf the roal to Adairvillo. in L)gdn County, in twelve uiontlia, it' the city, in' if Logan and Daviess, wnnid take §150,000 uf the bomU bearing six ]ier cent., payable ,..iL Corrupt rnanagciiicnt seemed to set in about this rime, an 1 the pcoyU lo-t coulidence in the directory. The way was f.iKt bi.'iiig ])aved tlir selling out the road to Louisville parties. The tf. litis wci'c stop])eil durinir the winter of ISTS-'O. .May 13, 1^71', this road was sold to the jS^ash\-iile, Chattanooga tVr St. Louis lluilway Coni|iany. by T. S. Anderson, and new life v,-as infused into the entei-jirise, as the new ci.)inpany signified their iiitentii»n to run a line to Yincennes, and thus connplete a trunk line to Chicago. About the middle of July trains were again staried under tlu' 'nianagenicnt of Vice-President Anderson; E. v'ulveihciUfe, Sujicrintendent. The track was put in good condi- tion vluring -Vugust and September. But in a few short weeks, naiiieiy, in . I aiiuary following, the ]S'., C. &. St. L. road fell into the liands of the Louisville S: Nashville Railway Company, who were interested in building nii Louisville at the expense of both Cwensboro and Ciiicigo. Tiiis couj:? (Vetat was accomplished by the intricate manipulations of stt>ck in New York. A full account is given in the Oweiisboro Mi:Sioro. Kegister. Go\-eru(_n- Porter sncceeded Colonel Cole as President oi' the Nashville, Chattanuoga A: St. Louis Railroad, and I'.oj^es still lingered in tiie liearts of the people along the line of the O. 6i N. Tload that the track would soon be completed, at least to Nashville, orRnssellville; but these hopes were "deferred,'' until the ]Hi1")lic " iieart was made sick," and tired out with thoughts of suspense concerning the matter. Suspense has now grown into a dead negation, with the Owensboro & Nashville Railroad ending at Ricedale, forty-four miles from the former city. During tlie year 1881 it was decided by the courts that Owens- boro's over issue of bonds was illegal. This municipality liad issued bands to tlie amount of $320,000 to secure the $250,000 cash au- thorized. Digitized by Microsoft® mSTOEY OF DAVIKSS COUNTY. 195 The iate Railroad Commission recently levied a tax upon this road, and the company refused to pay it, on the ground that the road was unfinished, while the franchise was it should remain un- taxed until "finished.'' The State, therefore, sued the company in the Franklin Circuit Court, and obtained a verdict in its favor; but the company has taken the case to the Court of Appeals. Tlie Legislature of 1881-'2 passed a bill requiring the L. & N". Co. to complete the O. & N. Road to Nashville within two years or forfeit their charter. The company refused to give guaranties that they would complete the track in that time; and the prospect now is that the road will have to be sold again, and a new com- mencement made. Colonel R. S. Bevier, formerly of Rnssellville, but now of Owens- boro, has been a zealous and hard-working friend of this road from the commencement, and is now the efiScient and popular President of the Company. rROPOSED EAILEOADS. As yet there is but one railroad in Daviess Caunty, but of course several others have been proposed, notably the route from Louis- ville direct to Owensboro along the south side of the Ohio River, whicli has been called by various names; as, the Louisville, Clover- port & Western Railway; Louisville, St. Louis & Texas, etc. In 1881 a narrow-gai;ge track was projected on this route, and sub- scription books opened for its construction. In Owensboro Messrs. Griffith, Bransford and Powers had charge of such books, for raising $25,000; but the people along the line did not rally to its support as zealously as was hoped. At the present time — the win ter of 1882-'3 — a renewed effort is being made to interest the people in a standard gauge road on this route. In April, 1882, a meeting of the directors was held in Owens- boro, which determined to push the survey of the route to a point opposite Shawneetown, 111., and to facilitate the survey and provide for the maps and profiles and necessary expenses; subscriptions to the stock were ordered to be opened at once at Henderson, Union- town, Morganfield, Owensboro, and along the rest of the proposed route, five per cent, of this subscription to be payable on demand after ten days, and the remainder upon the completion of the road. As to the location of the line between Cloverport and Owensboro, there were (and are still, February, 1883) two routes of equal ad vantages — one by Pellville and Knottsville, and the other along Digitized by Microsoft® li)6 HISTORY Til.' DAVIESS COUNTY. the river. Tlie first mentioned is the sliorter route by seven miles, hut the location of the line will probably ho made dependent upon Llic liberality of the citizens aloii:^ the resi)ectivc; routes. Since the year 1872 the question of buil^liu:;- a track from Oueiisboro to Vincennes luis been consiilerably a^-itated, James 0. iiiidd. of this city, takinj^ a leadini;- ])ai't. lu 1873 a company v,:s .irii-ani>;ed, and the tidvantages of such a ruad set forth, by ariiijies in tlie newspapers, accouuianied with mii]j5, etc., showing tlio mutual benefit to Owensboro and Ohicai^o that would certainly a('i.TU(\ Tobacco, whisky, coal, etc., would by it find an outlet to fiii-ii^-n ]K)rt$ by way of the lakes; and even Chicago itself would i'v' a considerable consumer of Daviess County ]iroduce. It is, ihiiiM'd, a much needed road, but there is a '• hitch" somewhere, iicrhaps made by rival cities. .\ line has been talked of running from Ltichmond, Ya., througli ()uent.l)oro to ('airo. 111.; also, from Owensboro to llockport. In I'--'"! till', latter was a part of the line called the " Owensboro, !i(i:Kp->i't A- Seymour Railroad," which was designed to run on to i '.■':rfiint:iiiie, O. Indeed, a great deal was done tow;'.i-d commenc- .;'.'; 11. irk, but local aid was not :~ufli(!iently I'orthcomiug. !" r i'nitlier industrial eiiler]iri.-e. ^a:v, the chapter on (Jwensboro iV i -lir, M_\-eral precinct iiist(,irir>. -6-- ;\"-^ ?. rjj.c'--. yr^-i^., , , > ■ V- - -^. iT^ j ' -V. ■•■ 4. -■. - ' <- 1 . y " "'J\ Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER VIII. THE PRESS. DEFUNCT NEWSPAPEKS. Owensboro Bulletin. — The first newspaper in Daviess County was the Owensboro Bulletin, started in 1844 as a Henry Clay "Whig paper, by Thornton C. Pattee, and continued for several years. Owensboro Gazette — The next was the Owensboro Gazette, a. Democratic organ, established about April 10, 1852, by George G. Yest, from Frankfort, Ky., now United States Senator from Missouri, and Eobert S. Triplett, of Owensboro, still a well-known business man of this place. Mr. Vest brought with him from Frankfort a good printer named Joseph H. Mayhall, and their paper was therefore a very line-looking sheet. The first year it had an average of about ninety advertisements in it. from the busi- ness men of Owensboro, — among them Tyler & Mayo, Moorman & Bros., Allen & Daveiss, W. H. Kerney & Co., J. Hyman &. Co., Adams & Shmutte, Wing & Weir, Megill & Bro., and Sim- mons & Millett. The proposed Henderson & Nashville Railroad was much talked of then, and was therefore a prominent topic in its columns. Within a year after its commencement Mr. Vest sold the paper to Mr. Mayhall, who employed Alfred B. Johnson as editor. This man was a brother of Hon. James L. Johnson, and died in Owensboro, before the war. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Mayhall was thrown out of a buggy and killed, and his widow continued the paper for a short time and sold it to a Mr. Hawkins; i)ut it prob- ably did not survive long. National American, The Shield, and Ford''s Southern Shield. — During the Know-Nothing excitement of 1856 the Nationul Ameri- can was started in Oweiishoro by Joshua G. Ford, proprietor, and George H. Teaman, editor. The tirst number was dated Aug. 6, 1856. A. G. Botts succeeded Mr. Yeaman as editor, and Colonel John H. McHenry was the next, in 1857-'8; and, about this time, Mr. Ford changed the name to Tht Shield, and soon after the out- break of the war to lord's Southern Shield, which name it (197) Digitized by Microsoft® 198 HISTOllY OF DAVIESS COUNTV. sustained until its discontinuance in 1ST5. For a year or so, how- ever, during the war, it was located at liartford, Ky. ^^ CoIoneV Jonhua G. lord was born, it is said, in Caldwell County, Ky., about 1831. When twelve years old he came to Owensboro on foot and learned the printer's art in the office of the Bulletin. In 1858 he married Miss Eliza Imbler. June 10, 1862, he was arrested by order of (loneral Boyle, Adjutant-General of Kentucky, and conveyed to Louisville, but was shortly afterward i-eleased. In 1875 he was elected to the Legislature and his paper discontinued. A few months after his term expired he removed, with_^the materials of his oftico, to Lacon, 111., where he edited the Mdt'shall Coiiihty Deinacrat a number of years. He is now edit- ing the Siiuk CovMty Democrat ., in Baraboo County, Wis., whicli county, since his arrival there, has changed from Reiniblican to Democratic, apparently by his influence. ^1. G. ^6i;;^.v was County Judge 1858-'66. He died in this county about twelve years ago. For biographical sketclies of Messrs. Yeaman and McHenry see chapter entitled "Sketches of Public Men." Oiocnshoi'o Deinocrat. — This j>aper was started a short time before the war, by Isaac P. Washburn, an illiterate man. It did not long survive the commencement of the war. Owenshtjvo Tunes. — This paper, started early in 1S82, by T. P. Cietz & Co., is already discontinued. Oioenxtx)!'!) iVr.^w.y.— This was an eight-column folio, commenced in Issi, by Thomas Collins, as a liepublican local paper; but in a tew months it died and the office material was mostly sold to the Foitt. Mr. Collins next endeavored to establish a paper at Mt. Vernon, Ind., but failed. Tlhe (hoi'iishi>i-o Monitor v/i\ii started in 1862 by Henry M. Wood- ruff, a strong Union man, who spoke outboldlj' in the face of war. The size of the jjajter at first was a twenty-inch six-column folio, and the first number is dated Aug. 13, 18G2. In the last week of May, 1SG4, Thomas S, Pettit became a jiart owner, "and changed the ])olit!cal tone of the paper, and spoke out as boldly against Lincoln's administration as his predecessor did agiiinst secession, alrliough for the Ujiion. Soon afterward Mr. Woodruff retired from the pa]>er altogether. In the autumn of this year Mr. Pettit was taken away by military authority, as more fully described a little further on, and the paper was discontinued for about six n.'onths, excej)t a few weeks, wIumi it was i-un by Rev. Richard C. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 199 Gardner, a Methodist Chaplain of the Twenty-seventh Kentucky Infantry, who liad for his aid a few sc)ldiers who could set type. During these changes considerable damage was done to the material of the office. The following May, Mr. Pettit returned from " Dixie Land " and resumed his old position, bought new press and typo, and battled away on the same old principles for which he was banished, and increased the circulation to more than 2,000 within a year. In the summer of 1869 he purchased a power press. The local department of the paper he always kept open to .all parties, and the news was given without partisan bias. A. L. Ashby, from Mt. Sterling, Ky., was admitted as associate editor from May 27, 1868, to Aug. 7, 1872. He was afterward Secretary of the Owensboro & Nashville Railroad Company, and is now living at Louisville. lie has accumulated considerable prop- erty. July 21, 1869, the Monitor was enlarged to eight twentj'- six inch columns to the page. In 1874 Mr. Pettit sold the Monitor to Robert Campbell, a native of Texas, who was educated at Baton Rouge, La., and served in Hood's Texas Brigade during the war. He was admitted to the bar in Texas, but in 1871, at the age of twenty-six, he com- menced journalism in Mississippi. The Monitor was suspended about the 1st of March, 1877, and the material of the office sold afterward to J. A. Munday, who started the Messenger the following August. Henry B. Woodruff, proprietor and editor of the Owensboro Monitor during tlie first years of the war, was a man of fair abil- ity and of zealous Union sentiments. He came to Owensboro as a school-teaciier, and taught school a number of terras. He mar- ried Miss Sallie Elam, a daughter of Mrs. John S. McFarland. He left Owensboro in 1863, when he sold out the Monitor, being appointed by Governor Bramlette tobacco inspector in Louisville. He now has- charge of the railroad station at Anchorage^ on the Louisville & Frankfort Railroad. Thornas S. Pettit was born in Frankfort, Ky., Dec. 21, 1843, the son of Franklin Duane and Elizabeth (Zook) Pettit; father a native of Virginia and mother of Kentucky. He attended Georgetown College, and before he was grown up learned the printer's art, which came natural and easy to him, and he became an ade})t. In 1864 he came to Owensboro and purchased the Monitor of Mr. Woodruff, and began the publication of a lively local paper, ad- Digitized by Microsoft® 200 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. vocating Democratic principles. Unlike his predecessor, he freely criticised the acts of the Republican party and their conduct of the war, and consequently in a few months (Nov. 17, 1864) he was arrested by order of General Stephen G. Burbridge, imprisoned and banished south, under the general charge of being "notoriously disloyal." He was hurried away, and was sent under an escort to Memphis, Tenn., where he was transferred across the lines within the Confederacy, in whose territory he traveled until the following May, when he returned and resumed the publication of the Moni- tor, as already noted. He was the first to establish a successful, paying paper in Owensboro, which he did before he was twenty- five years of age; and he was the first to bring Gordon and power presses to Owensboro. In this paper he published, in several successive numbers, his " Trip to Dixie," giving his experiences during the whole of the " round trip." These exciting annals helped the circulation of liis paper to a wonderful degree, as al- ready mentioned. In the South he underwent the many hard- ships and privations incident to a common soldier. Subsequently he was elected Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State Legislature, which position he held for six years, when he was appointed Private Secretary to James B. McCreary. This position he afterward resigned, to accept the situation of Reading Clerk of the House of Representatives at Washington, D. C, for which duty he lias extraordinarily good -voice and articulation. On the death of lion. John S. McFarland, in 1S09, and through the influence and personal popularity of Senator T. C. McCreery, he was appointed by President Johnson Assessor of this Internal Revenue District, the duties of which position he filled with conscientious fidelity to the close of the terra. Mr, Pettit has ever been recognized as a true Democrat. He has attended a number of State conventions of his party, and at, every one of them he was elected secretary; and at the last National convention, which nominated Hancock and Hendricks, he was one of the secretaries. He is still active in the political field. Last fall (1.SS2) he was a candidate for Congress against James B. Clay, of Henderson, but, after an exciting race, lie was defeated in the pivotal county of Union, by less than 150 votes. Witii all this political work Mr. Pettit has also engaged heavily in industrial pursuits. (See account of Marble it Pettit's stave factory and lumber mills in the History of Murray Precinct.) He Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 201 has befei active in many local and philanthropic entei-prises too numerous to mention here. He is a Freemason of high degree. Within four years after he entered the State Grand Lodge he was elected Past Grand Master, a distinction never before accorded to a member so young in that body. In December, 1870, he married Mies Margaret Blair, a native of this count}', and a daughter of James Harvey Blair, formerly a merchant of Oweusboro. Their only child is named Harvey Blair Pettit- LIVING NEWSPAPERS. The Messenger and Examiner. — This is a combination of the Messenger and the Owensboro Examiner. Owensboro Examiner. — This was started Jan. 1, 1875, and con- ducted five years by L. Lumpkin, sole editor and proprietor. It was a quarto of six columns to the page. Democratic. In 1880 it was consolidated with the Messenger. Lee Lumphin was born in King William County, Va., in 1833. He lived there until the last war, in which he served, on the Confederate side, throughout the great struggle. He then came to Owensboro and entered into partnership with W. T. Courtney as a druggist. In 1866 he married Miss Florence Coffey. In 1868 he opened a book store, which he conducted successfully until he sold ont to the Messenger in 1880, along with the Ej'u-nilner. He is now a member of the firm of W. J. &, L. Lumpkin, merchant millers at the north end of Crittenden street. The Messenger. — Aug. .7, 1877, was the date of the first num- ber of this paper, an eight-colnmn folio, started by J. A. Munday, who, for the purpose, had bought the material of the old Monitor office, as before mentioned. C. W. Braiisford was admitted as partner in 1878. In March, 1880, these gentlemen bought out the Examinen\ consolidating it with the Messenger., still retaining Mr. Lumpkin, the proprietor of the former, as business manager. The latter, liowever, soon left to carry on a flouring mill. Tiie Messen- ger and Examiner has since been issued both as a weekly and a semi-weekly. The semi-weekly was commenced as a seven -column folio, and in 1882 enlarged to an ciglit-column. In the ^])ring ot 1881 Mr. Bransford purchased Mr. Munday's interest, and was alone until October, when he admitted to partnership Mr. Wrey Woodson. The former is senior and tiie latter junior editor. This is a model local paper in respei-t to typography, mf,ke-iip. quality of paper, and more than all, editorial and business nianagc- Digitized by Microsoft® 202 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. ment. It is remarkable what old liGads these young ojentlemen have. The Messenger was issued also as a daily fur about two months in the i'all of 1S79, as a six-column folio. Inability to obtain the Associated Pro£s dispatches, and tlie consequent necessity of print- ing the paper at Evansville, led the proprietors to abandon the enterprise. (;^In connection with the above is a large and nice job office, said to be tlie largest in the State west of Louisville, possibly the largest in the State outside of Louisville. The material fs tlie con- solidation of two considerable offices. Their large power press, the Cottrel! & Babcock, is run l)y hydraulic force from the city waterworks, equal to four horse-power. A grammar lias just been printed at this office. 0. W. Bransford was born in Owensboro, Ky., Jan. 2-1:, 1858, a son of Benj. and Mary E.(Athy) Bransford ; attended schools here but graduated in tlie literary- course at Cumberland University Lebanon, Tenn., in June, 18T7. He then attended the law school at Louisville, wliere he completed the junior course, and was elected salutatorian from this class, as a testimonial to his profi- ciency. He next accepted a temporary position in Clarke & Crntcher's stemmery. At the close of the tobacco business for the season of 18T8 he became sub-editor of the Messenger, under J. A Muiiday. Within two months he was oflered a partnership in the papei'. wliich he accepted, in September, 1878, etc., as above noted. L>cc. 21, IS-^.i!, Mr. Bransford married Virgie Lee Finle^, oJ Lebanon, Tenn., a daughter of Dr. W. M. Finley, a native of ('iarksville, Tenn., and a niece of Congressman Finlej', of Florida. Mr. Bransford is a young man of remarkable business and execu- tive talent, and if lie lives will make a bright mark in the world. If lie .should rise to political prominence, he will not be a " hafk- '?'//.(/ dog,'' and he therefore might "bite," where tliore is occasion in eonie coniest. The Ilopkinsville South Kcnfuchi.un truly says of him: '• His •^tyie of wi-Jting possesses a degree of profundity far lieyond las years when he is handling editorial subjects. Ho is vury t'..'H]]ieratc. and is a model young man in hisliabits, although lie Ji.'Cs lut belong to any ch.urch. Concerning his piij'-sical ap- ]>caraii.'i; the South Kentneklan thus words it: " Ilia hair is- a has a fine rod mustache and brown eyes. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS OOONTY. 203 He is very quiet in his demeanor, and loves his profession more than he does his sweet-heart I" Urey C. Woodson was born at Madison ville, Ky., Aiic;. 16, 1859, the son of S. C. and R. J. (Hawthorn) Woodson, the former a native of Hopkins County, Ky., and the latter of Anderson County, Ky. When he was about five years old his parents moved to Ev- ansville, Ind., where he grew to manhood, attending school, etc. At the age of sixteen he entered the newspaper business in that city first on W\QEvening Herald, afterward on the Sunday Argus, and later on the Evansville Daily Courier. He then went to Green- ville, Ky., in the fall of 1877, and published the Muhlenhurg Echo, a weekly, which he enlarged and made prosperous. In the autumn of 1881 he sold this paper and became connected with the Messenger. Hon. James A. Munday, born in Hancock County, Ky., Aug. 14, 1843, was a son of Redmond and Martha L. (Hamilton) Mun- day. His father was a descendant of Reuben Munday, one of the first settlers of Virginia. He came to Kentucky when a young man, and was married here. He had a family of two daughters and one son, the daughters both deceased. He died when his son was two years old. After the death of his father James A. and his mother moved to Hawesville, where he attended school till fourteen years of age. He then entered Greenville Academy, at that time flourishing under the presidency of Hon. Edward Rum- sey, and superintendence of James K. Patterson, present President of the Kentucky State College. He afterward attended the Georgetown College, his junior year being interrupted by the political troubles preceding the war, on account of which tlie school was discontinued. Mr. Munday then returned home, and in August, 1S62, after several unsuccessful attempts, succeeded in reaching the Confederate lines and enlisted in Company II, Tenth Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, under command of (Japtain 11. 0. Meriweather. The regiment was afterward assigned to General Morgan's command, in all the engagements and movements of which he took an active part. He w.is iu a few months promoted to a Lieutenancy for soldierly conduct, and when Cajitain Meri- weather was detailed for other duty, he to(;k charge of the com- pany, in which capacity he did much service as a scout. His company and another under his command were assigned to the advance of the Second J3rigade on (reneral Morgan's memorable invasion of Indiana and Ohio, and were among the first to cha:';;c Digitized by Microsoft® 204 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. and carry the breast-works of Corjdon. After the most remark- able ride on record his command was foiled in its attempts to recross the river at Bnffington Island, Ohio, and in attempting to rally a few men and assist in covering a retreat, he with several of his regiment were surrounded and captured, and taken to John- son's Island. Tlie Government having determined on special severity with those who had dared to invade "the sacred soil," sent half of General Morgan's officers to the Ohio penitentiary, and the other half to the western penitentiary of Pennsylvania at Allegheny, holding them as exempt from the cartel of exchange. After eight months of close coniinement, Mr. Munday witli his fellow officers were transferred to Point Lookout, and afterward to Fort Delaware. At the close of the war he returned to Hawes- ville, and soon after his mother was killed by being thrown from a buggy. Mr. Munday attended a course of lectures at the Louis- ville Law University. On his return liome he took charge of the Circuit Clerk's office as Deputy, and the following summer was elected Circuit Clerk — tlie youngest clerk ever elected in the State. He held the office two years. During the time he was elected Assistant Secretary of the Kentucky Senate. After the expiration ol' liis term of office lie commenced the practice of law in Hawesville. In 1870 he came to Owensboro and formed a partnership with Judge George W. Williams. In 1871 he was made Master Commissioner of Daviess County Circuit Court; re- signed that office in 1875 and formed a business partnership with Thomas S. Pettit in the manufacture of staves. He sold out in 1879 and became the owner of the Owensboro Monitor office, and established' the Owensboro McS8enyi:i\ a weekly Democratic newspaper, a half interest in which was sold in 1878 to C. W. Eransford. After beginning the publication of the daily Messenger, in tlie fall of 1878, it was consolidated with the Examiner^ a weekly paper then owned by L. L\unpkin, forming the Owensboro Messen- ger and Ex. (), ; Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 205 The Saturday Post. — This sprightly gazette was established hy A. T. Oraycroft and Greo. Y. Triplett, the first number appearing Sept. 3, 1881. Mr. T. is the business manager and editor. The paper is an eight-column folio, the columns a half-em wider than the standard measure, and it is issued every Saturday morning. It is sincerely and purely Democratic in politics, as the party has attested by sending its editor as their Representative to the Legis- lature. Jan. 26, 1883, Mr. Craycroft retired from the lirm, leaving Mr. Triplett alone. The typography and make-up of the paper is magnificent, its editorials spicy, and its selections rich. Mr. T. has a high degree of originality as well as of literary ability. See chapter entitled "Authors and Artists." In connection with the Post is a fine job department. The ed- itorial and composition rooms are models of neatness. OfiSce in Hill's new block, a few doors north of the Planter's Hotel. George Vest Triplett was born in Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 30, 1856, and is a son of Robert S. and Louisa M. (Vest) Triplett. "When he was two or three years of age the family moved to Louisville, Ky., and soon afterward (which was about the beginning of the war) they came to Owensboro, where they have since made it their home. The subject of this notice has taken a course of study at Transylvania University, and also Central University, Richmond, Ky., finishing both an academic and a law course. His law pre- ceptor was "Wni. Chenault, one of the finest instructors of law in America. He was admitted to the bar at Richmond, and on his return to Owensboro he commenced the practice of law in the office of "Williams & Brown, remaining there about two years, 1877-'9, when he became assistant editor of the Examiner. "When this paper was consolidated with the Messenger, Mr. Triplett went to "Washington City to accept a position on the Daily Post. In the beginning of the summer of 1880, he formed a partnei'ship with Camden Riley, Sr. In August, 1881, he was elected to the Legislature and immediately started the Saturday Post, as above mentioned. As a lawyer Mr. Triplett still takes such buliness as will not interfere with the interests of his paper. He is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, and is still one of "ye jolly bache- lors," wii.>se doings in their clu'b room X?!; he so wittily writes up in his i)ai.cr. A short sketch of Mr. Craycroft is given in Chapter V. Digitized by Microsoft® •206 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Methodist Standard. — Tiiis was started in February, 1882, by Revs. J. S. Scobee, G. II. Hays, D. D., and B. F. Orr. It is a four-page tnontlily, with four wide columns to tlie page. A sketcli of Mr. Scobee appears in another part of this volume. Mr. Orr is a resident of Owensboro, and Mr. Hays of Cloverport. Tlie paper is printed by O. T. Kendall & Co. Hmne and School. — This is a local educational monthly started in January, 1883, by O. T. Kendall ct Co. It has eight pages four columns to the page. An effort was made in 1866 to establish the Baptist Herald in Owensboro, but in vain. The Press Association of Kentucky met in Owensboro, June 7 and 8, 1871, when a good delegation was welcomed by the citi- zens. They met first in the court-house and then at the Baptist church, when Colonel R. M. Kelly, of the Louisville Commercial,. delivered a very amusing address, and Benjamin Casseday read an original poem. In the evening a sumptuous banquet was given at Allen Gilmour's, and also at Bransford's hall, — the latter given by the citizens. A large share of the credit for the success of the occasion is due E. II. Taylor, J. II. McHenry, T. C. Jones and J. G. Ford. The tables were supplied by F. T. Guenther. Kelly's address and Casseday's poem were published in full in the next number of the Monitor. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTEE IX. AUTHORS AND ARTISTS. JAMBS WEIE. One of the oldest members of the Daviess County bar, and a prominent business man of Owensboro, was born in Greenville, Ky., June 16, 1821. His father, James "Weir, was born near Charleston, S. C, and belonged to a Presbyterian family of Scotch- Irish descent, that emigrated to America from the north of Ireland. His mother, Anna Rumsey, was born in Virginia, and was a niece of James Rumsey, who is justly entitled to tlie claim of being the first to apply steam as a means of propelling boats. His father came to Kentucky toward the close of the last century. He first adopted the business of surveyor, and afterward exchanged this for a mercantile career, and his business extended over a wide ex- tent of territory. He carried on, and managed, under his own supervision at the same time, stores at Equality and Shawueetown in Illinois; at Henderson, Morganfield, Madisonville, Greenville, Lewisburg, Hopkinsville and Kussellville, in Kentu cky, a at Gallatin, in Tennessee. Although a large amount of capital was necessarily involved in this extensive and wide-spread business, it was his boast that he never borrowed a dollar, nor failed to meet a debt at its maturity. James Weir, the subject of this sketch, was educated at Centre College, at Danville, Ky., one of the oldest institutions of the State. After graduating here he entered the law school of Tran- sylvania University, in Lexington, where he prepared for the legal profession. March 1, 1842, he married Miss Susan C. Green, daughter of Judge John Green, of Danville. Mr. Weir settled in Owensboro in 1848, and devoted himself to the practice of law, gaining a high standing at the bar as a chancery lawyer. He found time, however, to give to literary pursuits, and in 1849-'60 three novels appeared, of which he was the author. During his residence in Owensboro, Mr. Weir developed busi- ness qualities of no ordinary character, and when the Deposit Bank was organized in 1859, he was chosen its President, and still (■?07) Digitized by Microsoft® 208 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. continues in that position. To his management is chieiiy due its present high standing among the banking institutions of Ken- tucky. He was the first President of the Owensboro & Eussell- ville (now the Evansville, Owensboro & Nashville) Railroad. This office he retained from 1869 till the latter part of 1878. Mr. Weir has never minified in politics, nor has he ever been a candidate for any public office. Ho has attended strictly to his ])rofessional business, and since 1850 has had little time to indulge his inclination for light literature, or at least to no greater extent than to be the author of some fugitive pieces which have a])peared from time to time in the popular magazines of the day. His ample means have not had the effect of making him selfish or il- liberal. He has taken part in e^'ery public enterprise which prom- ised to be of benefit to the community. In 1880 he opened a large factory for the manufacture of carriage material^ a more full account of which is given in the history of Owensboro. Mr. Weir's charities have been wide, but unostentatious. While his abilities as a financier have been of service in building up his own fortune, they have also been exerted for the promotion of the interests of the city and county of which he is a resident. Ml'- Weir's residence is one of the most magnificently frescoed buildings in this part of the world. The work cost over $12,000, and was done by an ex-officer of the Confederate array, of foreign birth and education. The elegant historic paintings on the ceiling of the library, in the groupings and combinations, are a constant source of study and pleasure. Mr. Weir demonstrated his capacity as a literateur when com- paratively young. Before he was thirty years of age he wrote and published three stories, which were bound in book form and sup- plied to the regular trade by the chief publishing house of Phila- delphia, Lippincott, Grambo & Co. The works are the following : 1. Simon Kenton. This is a novel in which it is designed to give a sketch of the habits and striking characteristics of the popu- lation of the western portion of N"orth Carolina immediately fol- lowing the war for independence, and in it to introduce Simon Kenton, the great scout and Indian fighter, and also his constant opponent and enemy, Simon Grirty, the tory and renegade. In this volume the character in which Kenton was interested and con- nected came off victorious. 2. The Winter Lodge is a sequel to Simon Kenton, and trans- ports all the characters to Kentucky i,n an early day when first set- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 209 tied; and in it are introduced many of the most striking characters of that period, and many incidents in the early history of Ken- tucky, with sketches of scenery, the Mammoth Cave, etc., and also the battles in which Simon Kenton and Simon Girty were en- gaged, and the habits and marked characters of the early pioneers. The name " Winter Lodge " is derived from the name of a cabin erected by Kenton for the hero and heroine of these two volumes, and ornamented with carpets of buffalo hides, lined with furs. Mr. Weir intended in his younger days to write a sequel to this volume, running down to the War of 1812, and the death of Ken- ton and Girty, but increasing business on his hands prevented him. In Collins' History of Kentucky there is a sketch of the life and times of Kenton, and Girty was a desperado who figured largely among the pioneers of Kentucky and Indiana. 3. LoNz PowEKS ; or, the Regulators : A romance of Kentucky, based on scenes and incidents in this State. This interesting story was published in two duodecimo volumes, 319 and 364 pages, in the year 1850, by Lippincott, Grambo «fe Co., Philadelphia. HON. GEOKGE H. TEAMAN, now a resident of New York City, but formerly of Owensboro, wrote and published a work on the " Study of Government," while he was a resident at Copenhagen, Denmark, as a United States Minister. A biographical sketch of Mr. Yeaman appears in the chapter entitled, " Sketches of Public Men." COLONEL EGBERT SCOTT BEVIEK, President of the Owensboro & Nashville Railroad, was born at Painted Post, Steuben Co., N. Y., April ^8, 1834. His father, Benjamin W. Bevier, was a farmer of that place, and about one year afterward moved to Michigan, and then to Kentucky. The family, whose name originally was De la Baviere, came from France, at the time of the "Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day," which event compelled them to seek refuge in Holland, where they remained about 100 years, and until they emigrated to this country with the New York Patroon, Van Rensselaer. After re- ceiving a liberal education he commenced the study of law under the dirocuou of John Todd, Esq., of Russell ville, a distinguished lawyer of Logan County, and continued it at the law school at Lebanon, Tenn. On the completion of his studies, and his admission to the bar in 1852, he went to Bolivar, Polk Co., Mo., and commenced the practice of his profession. 14 Digitized by Microsoft® 210 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. In the winter of 1855 he went to Kansas as Prosecuting Attorney' and while there became engaged in the " Wakarusa war," and in the various conflicts with John Brown and his followers. In 1856 he located at Keokuk, Iowa, but in consequence of the strong Republican tendencies of that vicinity, he soon removed to Bloom- ington, Macon Co. , Mo. , where he continued to reside until the breaking out of the late civil war, having met good success in the practice of his profession. During that time he was selected as local attorney for the Hannibal, St. Joseph & North Missouri R. R. , County School Commissioner, Douglass Elector for his district, in 1859, and was appointed division inspector, by Governor Jack- son, with the rank of Colonel. He was unanimously elected to the command of the regiment from Macon County, and, joining Henry Sterling Price, was soon engaged in the struggle, partici- pating in the battles of Dry wood, Elkhorn, Farraington, Inka, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Big Black, and through the sieges of Lexington, Vicksburg, and Richmond. His regiment becoming greatly reduced in numbers by hard ser- vice and casualties, he was ordered to Richmond, as General Military Agent for the State of Missouri, continuing there until the close of the war, with the exception of the time consumed in a mission of carrying foreign dispatches to Cuba, in the accomplish- ment of which he was obliged to run the famous blockade. At the termination of the war he returned to his old home at Russellville, Ky., being prevented, by reason of political disabilities, at that time existing, from returning to Missouri. He again resumed the practice of law, and was elected Yice-President and General Agent of the Owensboro & Russellville Railroad. Mr. Bevier possesses line literary qualities, and contributes to various magazines. While a resident of Russellville, Ky., he prepared a very fine history of the First and Second Missouri Con- federate Brigades; also a "Military Anagraph," being a journal of his experiences in the army, " From Wakarusa to Appomattox. " The two accounts are published together in one volume of a little more than 500 octavo pages, by Bryan, Brand & Co. , St. Louis, Mo., in 1878. The work is ably written,being prepared with great care, and is illustrated with very line steel portraits of General Sterlintf Price, Senator F. M. Cockrell of Missouri, Dr. J. M. Allen, and of himself. The volume concludes with a list of survivors of those brigades, with present (1878) residence and occupation. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS (JOUNTY. 211 GEO. V. TKIPLE'rr, editor of the Saturday Post^ is a witty, original writer. "His An- nals of the Bachelors' Club," published in the Post in the autumn of 1882, are rich and racy. The following poem has gone the " rounds of the press," and finally found its way into the play of the "Jolly Pathfinders," now so well known 'throughout the nation. SONG OF THE HAMMOCK. I. Shady tree, Babbling brook, Girl in hammock, Reading book. Golden curls, Tiny feet, Girl in hammock Looks so sweet. Man rides past. Big mustache. Girl in hammock Makes a "mash." Mash is mutual. Day is set, Man and maiden Married get. II. Married now One year ago. Keeping house On Baxter Row. Red-hot stove. Beefsteak frying. Girl got married, Cooking trying. Cheeks all burning. Eyes look red, Girl got married — Nearly dead. Biscuits bum up, Beefsteak charry. Girl got married, Awful sorry. Man comes home. Tears mustache. Mad as blazes. Got no hash. Thinks of hammock In the lane bigitized by Microsoft® Wishes maiden Back again. Maiden also Thinks of swing, Wants to go back. Too. Poor thing. III. Hour of midnight, Baby squalling, Man in sock-feet Bravely walking. Baby yells on, Now the other Twin, he strikes up Like his brother. Paregoric By the bottle, Emptied into Baby's throttle. Naughty tack Points in air. Waiting some one's Foot to tear. Man in sock feet. See him — there. Holy Moses, Hear him swear ! Raving crazy Gets his gun. Blows his head oflF. Dead and gone. IV. Pretty widow With a book. In a hammock By the brook. * * * Man rides past. Big mustache. Keeps on riding, Nabt Mash. 212 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. A short biographical sketch of Mr. Triplett appears in the chapter on the " Press." EEV. B. F. OEE, a/ Methodist minister of Owensboro, a short time ngo wrote and published a work entitled "The Papal Power in Politics; or, Rome aijainst Liberty." It was a duodecimo of 256 pag'es, written for popular reading, and from tlie standpoint of the citizen. It is not a work for the learned only, but for the masses. The p.iper and type are very fine, and no doubt every citizen of Daviess County is or ought to be interested in this great question. PEOF. J. H. GEAY, son of Thomas W. and Susan (Fry) Gray, both natives of Vir- ginia, was born in Elkton, Todd Co., Ky., April 9, 1824. His father was a merchant and farmer. When nine years of age his parents moved on a farm; remained two years and then went to Louisville, where his father became a merchant. He died in 1842. J. H. attended school at Louisville, and also at George- town College, Kentucky. Took up teaching near Frankfort; then had charge of an Academy in Burlington; went back to Louis- ville, taught in th."t neighborhood seven or eight years; then went to Russellville, Ky., and taught mathematics in Bethel College seven years; then came to Owensboro in 1869 and took charge of Central Baptist Institute, now the Upper Ward school building, for two years ; sold out to the town, on account of graded public schools. He was engaged as Superintendent of Public Schools, which he organized and conducted two years. He then taught a private school here one year, and returned to Bethel College and taught mathematics eight years. Returned in the summer of 1882 and started a private classical school on Bolivar street. He has thirty eight scholars, and is doing well. He was married May 8, 1861, to Miss Fannie Wirt Fry, daughter of W. W. Fry, of Louis ville, Ky. They had eight children, four living— Fannie W., Leslie Walker, Herbert S. and Eugenia D. Prof, and Mrs. Gray are both membsrs of the Baptist Church. Politically he is a Democrat. A request to Mr. Gray, for a review of his system of teaching grammar, elicited the following reply: Swinton, in the preface of his grammar, says that "at the time of its first publication (1872), it had become a conviction in the m^nds of many t^io^fj)g^^y^^Jj^croso^eld in May following. Ac- (223) Digitized by Microsoft® 224 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. cordmglj, on the 7th of this month, a profitable meeting was held in Owensboro, with increased membership, Dr. Hillsman presiding. The next meeting, Nov. 7, was held in Livermore, Dr. Luckett presiding, and was largely attended. Dr. G. B. Tyler read a valuable paper on Epidemics, and Dr. K. B. Gilbert one on Pulmonary Phthisic. Thus the society continued its meetings from time to time, until May, 1875, when it was merged into THE m'dOWELL medical ASSOCIATION, while Dr. A. C. Wood, of Owensboro, was President of the former. Since that time it has continued to hold semi-annual meetings, spring and fall. The society comprises most of the physicians within ten or eleven counties in this part of Kentucky; namely, the present Con.^ressional district and Ohio and Muhlen- burg counties. May 28, 1879, this society met in Owensboro, Dr. C. H. Todd in the cliair, with Dr. S. S. Watkins, alternate President. Besides the discussion of many exciting medical topics, a resolution was adopted recommending the use of the decimal system of weights and measures. Dr. Harper, of Evansville, exhibited an ophthal- moscope. A resolution was passed relieving the president of the duty of delivering an annual address, and authorizing him to ap- point some member from the audience to offer an oration upon some popular subject. Oct. 27, 18S0, the society convened in Owensboro again, in the city hall. Considering the adverse circumstances, quite a large delegation was present. Dr. B. 11. Ilobbs treated of infectious dis- eases. Pliysicians from other counties read papers, and many profitable discussions were held. The next meeting was appointed at nopki:isville. May 25, 18S1. Nov. 1 and 2, 1882, the association had a large and profitable meeting in Owensboro. On this occasion J. H. Letcher, of Hen- derson, was President, and Drs. Kimbley, Stirman and Luckett, of Owensboro, Committee of Arrangements. Instructive papers were presented on a score of topics, by J. Hale, B. H. llobbs, W. D. Stirman, E. H. Luckett, S. S. Watkins, J. F. Kimbley and others. There are now 120 members of the society. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIKSS COUNTY. 225 THE KENTUCKY PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION held its third nnnual meeting in the Circuit Court room in Owens- boro, May 18, 1880, President Vincent Davis, of Louisville, in the chair. Several valuable essays were read. J. T. Iliggins, John "W. Carter, W. H. Courtney, S. H. Ford and Henry Megill, all of Owensboro, participated in tlie proceedings, an 1 Messrs. Ford and Megill were elected Yice-Presidents. Tlie next meeting was appointed for Louisville. PHYSICIANS OF THE PAST. Under this head we comprise all those who h5,ve practiced medi- cine in Daviess County, but are not practicing here now, whether deceased, moved away or retired. We arrange the names alpha- betically. Up to 1820 John Roberts and Samuel TIaynes were about the only physicians in this county. They both resided in Owensboro. Dr. A. C. "Wood, in 1852, was the eleventh physician in the county; and of the eight physicians then in Owensboro, only two now remain — Drs. Stirman and Tyler. Aaron Ayer ])raeticed in the southern part of the county 1830-'5. His neighborhood is now mostly in McLean County. Frank F Conway, Circuit Clei-k for many years past, used to practice medicine while residing in Oakford. See Chapter V. J. W. Coin.pion-wa.s practicing in Owensboro during the war. Thomas (Jndcher died July IS, 1881, from heart disease. He was born in Hardin County, Ky., Aug. 20, 1802; practiced medi- cine in Mississi]>pi; followed mercantile business at Big Sjn-ings, Ky. ; but on coming to Owensboro ho retired from business. Henry Bu 1)' liny, -a German ]ihysieian, had an office in Owens. boroin ISdS (at least), o\-er the drug store near the Shield office. H. B. GUIii'rf was a jihysician in Oxi-ensboro from 18GC to 1873; he is now in Lnuisville. B. Oiljhttrick was a physician in this county in l.^OV J>arius member of tlie Cniiiberlaud Presbyterian cliurcli. A. 0. ILiynea was an Owensboro physician eight ur ten years, making a specially of diseases of the eye and of the ear. lie - pent several' years in I'hirojie. He removed to KvansN ilK- about Dee. 1. 18^2. His father was Digitized by Microsoft® 226 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTy. Samuel Haynes, one of the oldest physicians in Daviess; was practicing here as early at least as 1830. W. A. Hickman came to Daviess County in lS-^5. His grand- father, James Hickman, was a Virginian, and a revolutionary soldier; was present at the siege of Yorktown, and one of the guard appointed by Washington to conduct Cornwallis to Kichmond. His father, William Hickman, was born near Winchester, Ya., in 1791, and at the age of twenty-two moved to Shelby County, Ky. He married Mary M. Cadwell, of Charlotte County, Ya., and after- ward moved to Sangamon Comity, 111., where he died at the age of eighty-three, having tilled among other positions that of Represen- tative in the Illinois Legislature. The education of Dr. Hickman was obtained almost entirely in Shelby County. Carty Wells, afterward Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri, was one of his teachers. In the fall of 1837 he began the study of medicine in Shelby County, and in 1840 entered the Louisville University, where he graduated in 1842. Returning to Shelby County for the purpose of establishing himself as a phy- sician, he found that his practice was likely to conflict with that of his old preceptor, Dr. George W. Nichols, to whom he was under' many obligations, and in consequence began practice at Bardstown. In 1844 he was married to Burnette Barbour, who died in 1853, leaving four children, two of whom are still living. In 1854 he married Susan L. Suit, of Maryland. For personal reasons Dr. Hickman left the fine practice which he had acquired during his residence of twenty- three years in Bards- town, and came to Daviess County, locating on the Livermore road, nine miles south of Owensboro. During his stay in the county he made many friends and gained a professional reputation of a high character. The railroad running south from Owensboro is one of the measures of improvement in which Dr. Hickman has been interested. He aided the undertaking in every way possible, and was President of the company. He also gave some notoriety to the medicinal springs in his neighborhood, to which many in- valids have resorted with benefit. See Chapter XI. Whig, Demo- crat, and Southern sympathizer is the record of his politics. James H., Burnette B., and Aurelia J. are his children. The son has chosen his father's profession, and is a graduate of the Medical University of Louisville. Dr. Hickman is now an honored resident and prosperous physi- cian of Springfield, 111. Digitized by Microsoft® lIlSTiiKY OK DAVIKSS OOUNT\ . 227 Henry B. Bobei-ts, brother of Dr. John Roberts, was born in Frankfort, Ky., Dec. 12, 1806. He studied medicine with his father, John Roberts, and his brother-in-law. Dr. Fi-ancis Lloyd, of Frankfort, and canae to Owensboro in 1837 and commenced the practice of medicine with his brother. He continued in this con- nection until 1852, when his brother died. In 1842 he was mar- ried to Harriotte H. Daveiss, daughter of General John Daveiss. They had nine children, four of whom are now living in Owens- boro with their mother. Dr. Roberts's acquaintance in Owens- boro and Daviess County was very extensive daring the long period of his thirty years' residence liere. The long exposure and hardships incident to his professional career undermined his con stitution, and for several years before his deatli he was afflicted with asthma, wliich finally culminated in lung troubles. He was a Democrat in politics throughout all the reverses of that party. His admiration for the Hon. Elijah Hise almost amounted to adoration. He adhered to the Baptist church and died in its communion in June, 1868. Dr. Roberts was a kind father, a good husband, and a true friend. He was possessed of tine judgment and always took an active interest in public affaii-s. John Roberts, a brother of the preceding, was the first physician who settled in Owensboi-o. He was born in Virginia about the year 1788. His father. Dr. John Roberts, was a Prus- sian, and came to America during the Revolutionary war, in which he was a surgeon until its close. After this he married Miss "Weissengen, of Virginia, and soon moved to Frankfort, Ky. The subject of this sketch came to the "Yellow Banks" in 1811. About the year 1813 he married Alice Mary Moseley, wlio died about 1839. Dr. Roberts never married a second time. In 1817, and for several terms thereafter, he represented his district in the State Senate, and died in 1852. Dr. John Roberts practiced his profession in Owensboro and Daviess County nearly forty years, and in that period formed friendships and attachments, tlie impression of wliicli has not, even in this late day, been effaced. In politics he >vas an ultra State Riglits Democrat, and a great admirer of General Jackson. In the disagreement between Mr. Calhoun and the administration, he was in strong sympathy witli Mr. Callioun. A few montlis be- fore his deatli he made a profession of the Christian religion, and adhered to the Presbyterian ftiith. Rev. II. H. Hopkins, then Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. pastor of the Old School Presbyterian church, was his frequent visitor during his long illness. J. O. Scott came to Owensboro in the spring of 1866; was in partnership with Dr. Charles H. Todd until the fall of 1872, when he went to Florida for his health. He is now residing in Sher- man, Tex. He was a man of considerable energy. J. Q. A. Stewart practiced a number of years at Sorghotown, then in Owensboro four or five years, and then, about 1877 or 1878, received the appointment of physician to the Institute for the Feeble Minded at Frankfort. Dr. Da/md Todd was born and raised in Fayette County, Ky. He graduated at Danville, and practiced medicine at Kodney, Miss., some years. In 1850 he came to Daviess County and en- gaged in farming for many years, in which he succeeded well, but lost heavily by the war. He was for many years a faithful School Commissioner. He died Sept. 14, 1878, in Owensboro. Dr. Wall was raised in this countj', and began the practice of his profession here in Owensboro, where he died, in the winter of 1852-'3. James Weir, son of President Weir, scarcely commenced prac- tice here as a physician. He is now in St. Louis. Matthew Williams, a native also of Daviess County, was aphy. sician here 1840-'8. Ohed Wilson was in partnership awhile with Dr. Wood, and in 1854 moved to Shelby County, Ky. He is now in Florida. PBESENT PHYSICIANS. Lewis O. Armendt, Masonville, was born in Lawrence County, Ky.,May 22, 1851. His parents were Henry F. and Matilda (Weinsheimer) Armendt, natives of Germany. His father is an architect. They had eight children. Lewis was the eldest of four sons. He was about six years old when he moved with his parents to Ohio County, and settled at Hartford. Lewis remained here on the farm and attended school until sixteen ; he then worked at the carpenter's trade and attended school until twenty-three, when he entered the Louisville Medical University, graduating in March, 1876; he then located for a short time in Owensboro, Daviess County, and soon after in Masonville, where he has since been practicing his profession. Dr. Armendt married Miss Mary M. Harris, April 22, 1878. She was born in Daviess County, Ky., and was a daughter of Phocion and Martha (Evans) Harris, old Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 229 settlers of Daviess Cornty. Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Armendt are both members of the Baptist church, and attend the Sugar Grove church. They have one daughter, Mary Ailenn, born Feb. 9, 1880. Dr. Armendt is a self-made man and it is through his own efforts that he became a physician, having early expressed a desire to become one. He owns a nice residence and one and one half acres of land in Masonville, where he resides. Dr. Armendt is one of the leading physicians of Daviess County. His political views are Democratic and he has always been a strong supporter of that party. His father and mother are both living, and reside on the old homestead farm near Hartford, Ohia Co., Ky. Thompson W. Bedford, Owensboro; ofhce on Main street, south side, a few doors east of the court-house. Practiced in Whitesville 1869-'76, since then here. Thomas W. Blandford, M. D., son of John E. Blandford, was born in Curdsville Precinct, April 5,1839. He was reared on a farm and educated in St. Mary's College, Marlon County. He commenced the study of medicine under Dr. B. B. Blincoe; was with Drs. Stirman & Watkina, of Owensboro, a short time; gradu- ated from the medical department of Louisville Dniversity March 5, 1869. He then commenced the practice of medicine in "West Louisville. In 1875 he formed a partnership with Dr. V. Ors- burn. They have a large practice, being very popular physicians of this precinct. He was married in 1871 to Louisa Luckett. To them have been bowi four children, only three living — Thomas O., Mary B. tifidi M. Florella. George C. was drowned at the age of two years. He wandered from home thinking he was following his mother, and fell in a small stream of water. Dr. Blandford and family are members of the Catholic church. J. T. Byrne, Knottsville. Henry F. Carpenter, M. D., Postmaster at Masonville, settled here in April, 1856. He and Dr. Chas. T. Noel named the town. They obtained a postoffice here in September, 1857. The first post- master was Dr. H. F. Carpenter, who held the oflBce four years, and was reappointed in February, 1882, and is the present incum- bent. Dr. Carpenter was born in Oldham County, Ky., eighteen miles east of Louisville, near the Louisville & Frankford Kailroad, Feb. 27, 1830. His parents were Joel and Mary (Snyder) Carpen- ter; they were natives of Virginia and members tirstof the Lutheran, then of the Regular Baptist, and afterward joined the Christian church, In whicli faith they died. They had twelve children. Henry Digitized by Microsoft® F. was the foiii'ili son and eloyetitli cliild. lie remained on the old honie~ti.' id t:ir!;i with liis I'.-irents until fifteen- when he attended and t;iu>i;lit ;w,h-iol until twenty-one. lie then settled on the old liornosrv^rsd (unv. tor three years: tlieii went to Loni»ville, Ky., and osLCiiiced ii. tile ^rrocery basinc-s three years, lie read medicine and fitu;jided lectures until ISoG when he came to Daviess Connty, anil located the town ot' Masonville. Dr. Carpenter married ^Eiss Martha E. Taylor in Oldham County, Feb. U, 1S50. She was born in (J'idham County, and was adaucjliter of Josepli and Mary (Speer) Taylor. Dr. and Mrs. Carpenter had four children — Mary L., wife of James P. Lishbrook, and resides on their farm at Masonville; Albert W., M. D., who is unmarried and practicing medicine at Glnmville, JNIcLean Co., Ky.; Joseplt li., who married Alice Lish- brook, and resides in Murray Precinct; Ilobert L-. resides in Mason- ville with his fatlier. The mother died l^ox. 14, 1872. Dr. Car- penter then married Sarah E. Taylor Feb. 1, 1876. Slie was born in Sullivan County, Ind., and was a daughter of William and Susan Taylor. Mrs. Carpenter is a member of the Baptist church. They have a family of two daughters, Nina M. and Ida P. Dr. Carpenter owns a nice house and lot, also the only store of general merchandise in Masonville. In politics lie is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for James Buchanan for President of the United States. Z. B. CAUds, Lewis Station. Taylor Crlghr, WhitesviPe. Calvin E. Cottrell was born in Shelby County, Ky.., July 12, 1S31. His father, Eev. Eeuben Cottrell, was born near Richmond, Va., and emigrated to Shelby County, where he was one of the early pioneer preachers. He died May 29, 1802, aged seventy- two years. He married Sarah Putnam, of Virginia, whose death preceded his by several years. There was a family of ten chil- dren, iive now living. Calvin E. commenced the study of medi- cine when nineteen years of age, with Dr. Samuel Hayues, of Masonville. In 1853 he commenced the practice of his profession, ii! Butler County, Ky. The next year he again studied with Dr. Haynes. In 1861 he located in Owensboro and remained till after the death ot his father in 1862, when he went to Hancock County. In 1870 he abandoned his profession on account of ill health, and returned to Owensboro, and was unable to engage in any business for several years. Since 1881 he has been engaged in the grocery business in Owensboro. March 6, 1857, he married Mary E., Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY.. 231 daughter of George and Mary J. Jones. Tliey have had five chil- dren, only three now living — Oscar E., Beatrice and Ida. Albert and John are deceased. Dr. Cottrell is a member of the Baptist church. J. P. Cox, M. Z>., born near Bardstown, Ky., Nov. 16, 1831, is a son of J. B. and Lucinda (Phillips) Cox, both natives of Nelson County, Ky. In "Collins's History of Kentucky" is recorded the settlement of liis grandfather, James Cox, at tlie head waters oi Cox Creek, Nelson County. His mother died in November. 1879; his father is still living, a member of his family. Tliere was a family of twelve children, three dying in infancy. J. P. was the eldest son and was reared on a farm in Nelson County, receiving his early education in the common schools. In 1858 he began the study of medicine with his cousin, O. N. Cox, of Nelson County. He attended medical lectures at Louisville, Ky. In 1860 he went to Ohio and commenced the practice of his profession, being also engaged in farming a part of the time while there. In 1875 he came to Daviess County and located at Newville, where he has won for himself an enviable name in his profession, his practice extending into Ohio and McLean cpuntles. In March, 1863, he married Sallie I., daughter of Wm. C. Rowan, of Ohio County, Ky. They have five children — ^William B., Lou Abbie, Anna, James Roy and Orion Noal. In 1877, Dr. Cox united with the Green River Baptist Church. L. A. Grinnian, Grissom's Landing, where he has been for six or eight years. He came from Louisville. Ignativs Cruy Drury, M. D., Knottsville, was born in Nelson County, Ky., Nov.' 18, 1829. His father, Hillary Drury (deceased), was a native of St. Mary's County, Md., and came to Kentucky with his parents in 1807, and removed with his family to this county in 1830. Our subject was reared on the old homestead, about four miles southeast ot Knottsville, in this precinct, and educated at St. Mary's College in Marion County. He graduated from the Medical University at Louisville in 1862, and came to Knottsville the same year and formed a partnership with Dr. Will- iam B. Holmes, who was practicing here at that time. Dr. Holmes was also a graduate of the same college. He died in 1867. A few years later Dr. Drury formed his present partnership with Dr. Thos. J. Byrne. In the fall of 1871 he went to New York City and attended the Bellevue Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons. While there he also visited the various Digitized by Microsoft® 'z-yj HISTOKY OV llAVIEbS OOLNTY. hospitals, thns gaining much useful information. The Doctor was never niarriod, but is supporting and educating two nieces and u ne]>liew". J. W. Mlis, M. Z>., was born in Daviess County, Ky., Dec. 30, lSi7. His parents were Luther R. and Mary (Kallam) Ellis, na- tives of Kentucky. They had a family of two sons — W. T. Ellis, a lawyer of Owensboro, and J. W. When J. W. was seven or eight years old his parents died and lie and his brother went to live with their grandfather, Ilirara Kallam, a Methodist minister. J. W. remained with his grandfather and attended the Pleasant Val- ley Seminary until seventeen, wiien he entered the Kentucky Uni- versity at Harrisburg, and remained two terms. He then taught school at Wliitesville, studying medicine with Drs. Hale and Mc- Kay fifteen months. He then entered the Jefferson Medical Col- lege at Philadelphia, graduating in March, 1870. He then located in Masonville, where he has since practiced his profession. Dr. Ellis is a member of the McDowell Medical Association, and a leading physician and surgeon of the county. He is purely a self- madejman, as it was through his own exertions that he obtained an education. Dr. Ellis is a Mason and is a demitted member of Hodges Lodge, Whitesville. He owns a fine farm of 325 acres, on the south side of the Hartford road, in Masonville. He decided to make it a stock farm, and has therefore purchased short-horn and Jersey cattle, and some fine horses and mules. Dr. Ellis's grand- father, Hiram Kallam, was a Colonel in the war of 1812, and his sword is still in the Masonic hall at Pleasant Vallej'. Politically, Dr. Ellis has always been a supporter of the Democratic party. He was married April 26, 1877, to Bettie Whipp, a native of Casey County, Ky., and a daughter of John W. and Isabella (Coffey) Whipp, natives of Kentucky. They have one son, Wm. T., born Sept. 12, 1880; a daughter, Mary, born Feb. 26, 1878, died Sept.i^ 1878. Dr. and Mrs. Ellis are members of the Union Christian church, Masonville. H. (J. Flemming. Delaware, Curdsville Precinct. W. Scott GilmoTe, Sorghotown. Josiah Hale, M. Z>., born Jan. 25, 1829, near Fordsville, Ohio Co., Ky., is a son of Caleb and Sallie (Huff) Hale, both born in Virginia, and married in Ohio County, Ky. His father died aged seventy-lour, and his mother aged seventy. They had a family of four sons and seven daughters; four sons and five daughters now living. Josiah was the third son. His parents being in moderate Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 233 circnmBtances his early education was pursued in the schools of his countj (Ohio), but he was ambitions, and by close study and perse- vering effort succeeded in making himself a fair scholar, and at the age of twenty, having chosen the profession of medicine, began his studies at home under the instructions of Dr. N. L. Lightfoot, a country practitioner, where he pursued his studies diligently for one year. He then went to Fordsville, Ky., and entered into a partnership with Dr. H. Wells, and practiced his profession for two years; then went to Louisville and became a pupil of Dr. D. "W. Yandell, of that city, at the same time attending lectures at the Louisville University, where he graduated in 1856. He now entered upon the practice of medicine in Hartford, Ky. , continuing three years. Then went to New York, and attended a course of lectures at the New York University, also at the New York Ophthalmic Hospital. In 1860 ho returned to Hartford, and resumed his practice there for two years, when he removed to Owensboro, Ky., where he practiced for nine years ; then being deter- mined to stand among the first in his profession went again to New York and attended lectures at the Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege, and also took a course of private instruction at the Ophthalmic Hospital, under 'Prof. H. Knopp. He returned to Owensboro, where his success has fully repaid him for his long and persistent study. In his experience as a physician he has had a large practice as surgeon, performing many difficult operations. Recently he has devoted himself more especially to the diseases of tho eye, and surgical diseases of women, and has attained great distinction and a very large practice. In 1866 he became a member of the Ken- tucky State Medical Society, and in 1871 was elected Senior Vice- President of that body. He is a permanent member of the American Medical Association, a member of the McDowell Medical Society, of the Owensboro Medical Society, and a member of the Board of Medical PJxaminers for the Fifth District of Kentucky. He was a delegate tu the International (Centennial) Medical Con- gress, at Philadelphia, in 1876. He was a delegate from the Tri- State Medical Society (Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois) in 18S1, to the International Medical Congress that met in London, England; and during his stay in London took a course of instruction on tht- diseases of tho eye at the lloyal London Ophthalmic Hospital, lie remained in Kurope one sununfr, visiting the ieadiiiti lio.^pituls, niu,-:cuinH and art galleries of London, Kiigland, Parib, France, nnd Edinbnr^ch, Scotland, returning to < )wenKl)oro in the full of 1>., was born in Daviess County, Ky., Aug. 26, 1854. His early education was received in the schools of Owensboro. He studied medicine with his father and brother, and attended the Louisville Medical University two terms. He commenced the practice of medicine in March, 1878, and is now located at the forks of the Hardinsburg and Yelvington roads, four miles east of Owensboro. He is a member of the McDowell Medical Association. His parents. Dr. William and Mary (Sub- lett) Lockhart, are ratives of Indiana and Logan County, Ky., respectively, his father born in 1816, and his mother in 1821. They have three children — Laura C, Charles J. and Simon M. His father came to Kentucky when eight years of age, and was educa- ted in this State. He has practiced medicine in Daviess County over forty years. Edward M. LucJcett, Owensboro; residence, north side of Fourth, Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 239 second west of Clay street. Dr. Luckett is a well-known, promi- nent physician ; once President of the Green Kiver Medical As- sociation, and has often had other responsible positions. Dr. McMurtry, is in Vanover Precinct, near the narrows bridge. Henry (& Watson Megill, Owensboro, druggists. Hardin K. Oisburn, M. I)., son of James S. Orsburn, was born in Webster (then'Henderson) County, Ky., Oct. 18, 1857. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the Morganiield Col- legiate Institute, of Union County, Ky. Ke commenced the study of medicine when twenty years of age, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., in March, 1880. He then came to West Louisville, and commenced the practice of his profession in partnership with Drs. Orsburn & Blandford. He is a member of the McDowell Society of Second Kentucky Congressional District. Y. Orsburn, M. D., son of James S. Orsburn, was born in Webster (then Henderson) County, Ky., March 20, 1846. His father was also a native of Henderson .County, born Aug. 17, 1819. He was educated in Princeton College, Ky., and in the medical department of the Louisville [University, from which he graduated in 1874. He commenced the study of medicine prior to his entering the college, having practiced since 1869. In 1875 he formed a partnership with T. W. Blandford. They have a large practice in West Louisville and vicinity. Dr. Orsburn was mar- ried Oct. 24, 1869, to Mrs. Mary J. Lewis, of McLean County, daughter of J. J. Rust. Mason G. Pate, Whitesville. Dr. Rinehart, Lewis Station. M. H Rose, physician and Postmaster, Sorghotown. J. D. Russdl, Yelvington. Has been there about live years. John A. Sieher, M. D., born in Evansville, Ind., Sept. 4, 1853, is a son of John and Catherine (Krapt) Sieber, natives of Bavaria, Germany. He was educated in the public schools, and Trinity Catholic School of Evansville, graduating from the latter in 1867. He was then clerk and bookkeeper in a large pork establishment. Oct. 15, 1874, he commenced the study of medicine with J. W. Irwin, M. D. He took his first course of lectures at the Evans- ville Medical College in the fall of 1876, and graduated in the spring of 1879. While in college he acted as prescription clerk in the city free dispensary thirty months; also acted as prosector for Edwin Walker, Professor of Anatomy. He commenced the prac- Digitized by Microsoft® 840 HI8TOET OF DAVIBSB COUNTY. tice of his profession in Evansville in 1878-9. In the spring of 1880 he went to Dubois County, Ind., on account of his health; remained there two years. In June, 1882, he came to Owensboro, and formed a partnership with Thomas E. Lamping. He is a member of the DuBois County, Ind., the Owensboro and McDow- ell medical societies. He was married July 15, 1880, to Susie, daughter of John Herman, of Evansville, Ind. They have one son — Arthur John Henry. Dr. William J. Springfield., Vanover Precinct, was born in Web- ster (then Hopkins) County, Jan. 22, 1843, and is a son of John Springfield, a native of Virginia, wlio came to Kentucky in 1839. The Doctor was brought up on a farm, and educated in the com- mon schools. He graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in June, 1874, and located for the practice of medicine in West Louisville, the same year. In 1876 he removed to his farm in this precinct, where he still lives, and has built up a large practice. He also carries' on farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1875, to Mrs. Rafferty, daughter of the late Lewis I. Burns, of his county. They had two children, one living — Aurelia. Mrs. Springfield died June 20, 1880, and March 10, 188 1, the Doctor married Miss Belle Aull, daughter of Eobert P. Anil, deceased. They have one child — Ansel. The Doctor owns 106J acres in his farm, and an undivided one third of seventy-two acres in another tract. Charles Tyler Thomas, M. 2?., born in Owensboro, Oct. 19, 1861; attended the Hospital College of Medicine at Louisville in 1875-'6, and graduated from Evansville Medical College in Feb- ruary, 1878. He began the practice of medicine in the spring of 1878, in Murray Precinct. Dr. Charles M. Todd, the subject of this sketch, is the young- est child of Colonel Charles S. Todd, who was chief of staff for General Harrison in the war of 1812, minister to South America under Mr. Adams in 1826, and minister to Russia under General Harrison in 1840. He is a grandson of Judge Thomas Todd, of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the youngest grand- child of Governor Isaac Shelby. Dr. Todd was born in Shelby County, Nov. 6, 1838, and edu- cated at Frankfort under the distinguished tutor, B. B. Sayre, with whom lie remained five years. In 1858 he removed to New Orleans, where he was a resident student for more than twelve months in the Cliarity Hospital, and Digitized by Microsoft® HisTOBT OP DAVIESS comiTr. 241 :gradaated at the University of Louisiana in 1861. He was selected by the faculty of Louisiana from a graduating class of 127, for the position of assistant physician of the insane asylum at Bayou Sara, La. He was examined for and received his degree two months before the end of the term, and immediately assumed the position to which he had been elected, and which he filled for ■eight months. At the breaking out of the war he resigned his position in the asylum, and went to Virginia as assistant surgeon of the Sixth Louisiana Eegiment. In 1862 lie was promoted to the position of regimental surgeon of that regiment, Hay's brigade, Stonewall Jackson's division of General Lee's army, in which active field service he remained until the final surrender of his command at Appomattox Court-House. On the 15th of February, 1865, Dr. Todd was married to Rosa, the youngest daughter of Mr. Wm. M. Burwell, of Liberty, Bed- ford Co., Va. At the close of the war, in common with the majority of the de- fenders of the lost cause, Dr. Todd found himself without means, and with gloomy prospects for the future^ and, as his father and another were then residing in Owensboro, he determined to visit that place before selecting a location. Owing to scarcity of money, he made the trip from Lynchburg? Va., to Owensboro, Ky., — a distance of six hundred miles, — on horseback. The season was early spring, and the roads and weather in the worst condition, and the unsettled state of the country through which he passed added danger to the discomfort of the journey; but after a tedious ride of twenty-two days he found him- self at Owensboro, unharmed except bj' fatigue. Dr. Todd located in Owensboro, September, 1865, and entered at once upon the duties of his profession, and his practice as a physi- cian has been large and lucrative, and he enjoys the confidence of the community, which has been evidenced by the positions of great honor and responsibility to which he has been called by the citizens. Trustee of the Owensboro City Schools for years, Vice-Presi- dent for two years, and President for seven years of the Daviess County Agricultural Fair Company, which position he filled with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, and with great advantage to' the institutions which he served. While an active worker in matters of general interest Dr. Todd 16 Digitized by Microsoft® --•_' HISTciRT OF DAVIESS COITxty, kr))t pact! witli the protjress of his chosen profession, and was o'io(:tL'Li '') l.^Ti; Vice-President of tlie Keutaekv State Medical So- ciety at llo]ikiii^-ville, and in 1878 was elected President of the s. ic.'ety at Frankfort. D.-, Todd succeeded as President Dr. L. P. Yandell,of Louisville, one oi the oldest, most learned and accomplished physicians and siii-geons in the Western country. Tiiis distinction, in view of the comparative youth of Br. Todd, was very great, but, in view of liis exper'ence and acquirements, not more than he merited. Dr. Todd was the only man who ever held both positions in the Ken- tucky State Medical Society, and was the first young man ever elected president, and his election had one other peculiar feature: The rule was to elect the oldest practitioner which the society would chance to meet, and Dr. Todd's election was the first de- parture from that established rule. A singular line of coincidences seems to mark this important period of his 1 if e. He was elected at Frankfort, where he was edu- cated, and to which place he had never befo're returned, and pre- sided at Danville, where his father and mother were born, and on the occasion of the erection by the Kentucky State Medical Society of a monument to his uncle, Dr. Ephraim McDowell, the great and world-renowned ovariotomist. Samuel S. Watkins, M. D., one of the first members of the medical profession of Daviess County, has been a resident of Owens. boro since 1855. His ancestors were in Virginia, early in the history of that colony. Three brothers emigrated from England, one settling in Maryland, another in Yirginia, and a third in North Carolina. From the Virginia branch is Dr. "Watkins descended. The home of the family in Virginia was Albemarle County. Dr. Wat. kins i-s the son of Absalom Watkins. His mother's maiden name was Maria McClanahan. His father emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky about 1816, when twenty years of age. He settled first in Bourbon County, and about 1818 was married, and soon after removed to Breckenridge County. Absalom Watkins was here a man of prominence and influence, twice a Eepresentative in the Legislature from the county of Breckenridge, and once in the Sen- ate of Kentucky. He died in Owensboro in 1866. Samuel S. Watkins, the third in a family of seven children, was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., the fourth of December, 1824. A.tthe age of ten his father sent him to a seminary at Hardinsbarg. Re- maining here three years, he attended Mount Merino, a Catholic Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 243 school in Breckenridge County. At eighteen he hegan the study of medicine at Hardinsburg, with Drs. Hardin and Thomas. He attended lectures in the Louisville University in the winter of 1844-'45, and began practice in Hardinsburg in 1845. In 1846 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Dr. J. H. Thomas, with whom he was there engaged in the practice of medicine. Dr. Watkins moved to Texas in 1848, where Mrs. Watkins died, in 1852, and in 1854 he returned to Kentucky, spend- ing the following year in the University at Louisville. In May, 1855, the Doctor returned to Owensboro, having been married the April preceding, to Susan M. Thomas, of Breckenrige County, a sister of his former wife. He at once gained a good practice, and main- tains a leading rank in his profession at the present time. His reputation as a skillful practitioner is merited by the marked suc- cess that has attended his efforts. Seven of his nine children are living. In politics Dr. Watkins was formerly a "Whig and is now a Democrat, though he mingles but little in political affairs, except to discharge his duties at the polls when he deems it necessary as a citizen. He is a Methodist in his religious convictions. As a citizen and physician Dr. "Watkins enjoys the esteem and confidence of the people of Daviess County in a high degree. NathoM H. Wilkinson, M. D. , was born Aug. 29, 1864, in Marion County, Ky., and is a son of George H. and Elizabeth (Gertin) "Wilkinson; his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Marion County, Ky. His mother died in 1863; his father resides on a farm near Owensboro. Nathan H. is the eldest of three sons, his brothers being James'AV^allace and George B. He came to Owensboro when fourteen years of age, and from that time has worked to acquire the knowledge of medicine. He went to school durinc the winter and worked with his father at the carpenter's trade during the summer, until he was competent to teach. After teaching several terras he was employed in a dry-goods store as clerk, and remained there two years. During this time, June 1, 1875, he was married to Anna B., daughter of Timothy Burgess, and a native of Concordia, Ky. Having earned a sufficient amount from his labors, and having paid considerable attention to the study in private, he entered the office of Dr. Stewart, a former prac- titioner of Owensboro, and remained with him a year. After Dr. Stewart's removal to Frankfort he studied with Dr. Lamping a year. He then attended the Medical University at Louisville five months, and finally graduated from the Cincinnati College of Digitized by Microsoft® 244 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Physicians and Surgeons in 1881, and shortly after began the prac- tice of his profession in Oweusboro. From 1877-'81 he traded largely in stock, shipping to all markets, which resulted very profit- ably. He owns city property in Owensboro to the amount of $10,000, and two farms in Kentucky and one in Missouri. Dr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have two children — Alexander Huston, born March 18, 1880, and Willa Belle, born Sept. 19, 1882. A. C. Wood, M. D., is one of the most prominent members of the medical profession of Owensboro. The Doctor came here in 1852, a young man, and engaged at once in the practice of medi- cine. His nffable manner and thorough medical education was soon recognized in the community, and he soon took rank among the leading practitioners of Daviess County. He was at one time President of the Green River Medical Society, filling the oflice with ability. In April, 1853, Dr. "Wood was married to Miss Mary F. White, daughter of E. T. White, Esq. Mrs. Wood is a native of Virginia and came with her parents to Owensboro when about four years of age. The Doctor and wife are the parents of but one child, Edward W., who was born at Owensboro in August, 1864. Edward was educated at the Michigan State University, Ann Arbor, graduating in 1873. He is now one of the rising young busi- ness men of this city and a member of the firm of Turpin &, Wood. This firm conducts one of the heaviest tobacco trades in Owensboro. During the late war Doctor Wood was an uncompromising Union man, and in opposition to public sentiment expressed his views plainly and avowed his faith in the ultimate triumph of the Union arms. After the war, when in 1866 the question of a separation of the Presbyterian church between the North and South came up. Doctor Wood was the only oflScer in his church who voted to send delegates to the General Assembly. The Doctor and Mrs. Wood have long been active and consistent members of the Pres- byterian church in Owensboro. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTEK XI. GEOLOGY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. PHYSICAL FEATUBES. The extreme length of the county from east to west is about thirty -five miles; average length, twenty -six milds; average width north to south, sixteen miles; containing about 422 square miles, or 280,000 acres. The county seat is on the northern border and on the Ohio Kiver, equi-distant between the upper and lower cor- ners of the county, and although on the northern border, is wittiin four or five miles of the geographical center of the county, owing to a great Southern bend in the Ohio River. Almost every variety of soil is embraced in the county, from third to first rate, the greater portion being or approaching the first quality of farming land. One half the area is river bottom and level land. Many thousand acres of rich, black land lie so level as to badly need ditching, much of the best lands in the county in various localities being of this character. The greater portion of the broken or hilly land lies along the eastern border of the county. Much of the broken land is rich, and but a small portion too steep for cultivation. The Buzzard Koost Hills, west of O wens- boro, covering som^e 5,000 acres, is all farming land of the first or- der, a small portion only being too steep for the plow. Some of the best farms in the county are on and among these hills. A strata of coal over five feet thick underlies this portion of the county. The timber consists of yellow poplar, black walnut, honey locust, black locust, mulberry, red and white oak, black ash, sugar tree, birch, etc., etc. Another broken or hilly portion of the county is embraced in Yanoverand Cnrdsville precinct^, some twelve to eighteen miles southwest of Owensboro. But a small portion of this land can be classed as poor, and all is covered with excellent timber — poplar, white, red and black oak, hickory, dogwood, etc., and some of the hills in this section with sugar-tree and beech. The poorer the hills the better the white oak. Coal of good quality and in work- able veins, or strata, is found under all the hilly portions of the (245) Digitized by Microsoft® 246 HISTORY OF DAVIESS CODNTT. county. The class of soil denominated third rate is found along some of our creek bottoms, being too low, and frequently covered by the overflowing of the creeks and back water from Green River. Much of this low land, however, is covered with the forest oak, hickory and gum timber. RIVEBS AND CREEKS. Tlie Ohio River for thirty miles is the northern boundary. Green River touches the county for about twenty miles on the west, and Blackford Creek about twelve miles on the east. The other prin- cipal streams are North and South Panther creeks. North Panther has its rise in Hancock County; South Panther, the larger of the two, in Breckenridge County. They unite about six miles south of Owensboro, making Main Panther Creek, which winds and crooks nearly through the middle of the westefn half of the county, and unites with Green River at the town of Curdsville, about four- teen miles southwest ot Owensboro. The other creeks are Pup Creek, rising in the east end of the county, and flowing north- west into the Ohio River. Yellow Creek is a stream of limited strength which flows north to the Ohio River, two miles below Pup Creek. South Rhodes Creek rises in McLean County, flo\te north into Panther Creek, entering it six miles due south of Owens- boro. Knob Lick flows north into Panther Creek, two miles abofire the mouth of Panther. Delaware rises in McLean County, flows northwest, and enters Green River half a mile below the village ol Delaware. North Rhodes Creek has its head in the Roost Kills, flows west into Green River, which it enters ten miles west of Owensboro. THE SOIL. The soil of Daviess County is a strong clay and rich loam, pecul- iarly adapted to the raising of tobacco, and is, next to Christian the most extensive tobacco-growing county in the State. A specimen of one of the best soils in the county was taken in 1856 from the slope of a ridge on Henry Dugan's land in the forks of Panther, which had never been cultivated, near the coal-measure limestone, and analyzed under the supervision of David Dale Owen, the State Geologist. The primitive forest growth at the place was hard maple (sugar-tree), yellow poplar, black oak, hick- ory, yellow sweet gum, black gum, elm, beech and black walnut- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 247 The dried soil was of a mouse color. Washed with water, it left 82.3 per cent, of sand, etc., of which all but 1.6 per cent, was fine enough to pass through the finest bolting-cloth. This portion con- sisted principally of rounded ferruginous particles, with a few grains of hyaline quartz, and of a black substance like scoria. One thousand grains of the air-dried soil, digested for a month in water containing carbonic acid, gave up to it nearly four and a half grains of brownish-gray extract, dried at 213° F., which had the following composition, viz: GRAINS. Organic and volatile matter 1.340 Alumina, oxide of iron and phosphate 218 •Carbonate of lime 1.660 Magnesia 266 Brown oxide of manganese 497 •Sulphuric acid 188 Potash 142 Soda 023 Silica 099 4.433 The'air-dried soil lost 4.20 per cent, of moisture at 400°, F., dried at which temperature it had the following composition: GHAINS. Organic and volatile matters 6.972 Alumina 1.360 Oxide of iron 1.660 Carbonate of lime 536 Magnesia 358 Brown oxide of manganese 218 Phosphoric acid 122 Sulphuric acid 103 Potash 193 Soda 029 Sand and insoluble silicates and loss 89.394 100.000 A specimen from the same farm, but which had been in cultiva- tion four years, in tobacco, wheat, etc., yielded, on analysis, the following results: Color of the dried soil a little lighter than that of the preceding, and of a slight yellowish tint. Washed with water it left 80.2 per cent, of sand, etc., of which all but 1.4 per cent, was fine enough to pass through?ithe finest bolting-cloth; this portion was principally small, rounded, ferruginous particles witij a few quartzose. Digitized by Microsoft® 348 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. One thonsand grains of the air-dried soil, digested for a month in water containing carbonic acid, gave up more than three and a half grains of light brownish-gray extract which had the following composition: GBAINB. Organic and volatile matters 800 Alumina, oxide of iron and phosphates 168 Carbonate of lime 1-793 Magnesia 233 Brown oiide of manganese 367 Sulphuric acid 090 Potash 083 Soda 042 Silica 139 8.720 The air-dried soil [lost [2.88 per cent, of moisture at 400° F., dried at which temperature it has the following composition: GRAINS. Organic and volatile matters 6.301 Alumina 1 .776 Oxide of iron , 2.380 Carbonate of lime 416 Magnesia 341 Brown oxide of manganese 086 Phosphoric acid 151 Sulphuric acid 096 Potash 158 Soda 027 Sand and insoluble silicates 89.236 100.9 1» Sub-soil from the same field gave the following characters: Color of the dried sub-soil dirty gray-bufi; much lighter than that of the preceding soil. "Washed with water this sub-soil left 75. 9 per cent. of sand, etc., of which all but 0.9 per cent, was fine enough to pass through the finest bolting-cloth. This portion consisted of rounded ferruginous and quartzose particles, 'with a few of a dark-colored substance like scoria. One thousand grains of the air-dried sub-soil, digested for a month in water charged with carbonic acid, gave up more than a grain and a half of brownish-gray extract, which ;had the follow- ing composition, viz. : Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 249 GHArKO. Organic and volatile matters 0.340 Alumina, oxide of iron and phosphates 068 Carbonate of lime 496 Magnesia 106 Brown oxide of manganese 259 Sulphuric acid , 113 Potash 078 Soda 001 Silica 149 1.587 The air-dried sub-soil lost 2.40 per cent, of moisture at 400 ^ F., and thus dried had the following composition: GRAINS. Organic and volatile matters 2.868 Alumina 1.756 Oxide of iron 2.520 Carbonate of lime 038 Magnesia 156 Brown oxide of manganese 174 Phosphoric acid 177 Sulphuric acid 068 Potash 097 Soda 015 Sand and Insoluble silicates. 92.276 100.145 The soil of the field which has been in cnltivation only four years in tobacco and wheat shows a sensible diminution of organic matters, lime, magnesia, sulphuric and phosphoric acids, and the alkalies; is of a slightly lighter color than the virgin soil, gives less soluble extract to the water containing carbonic acid (representing atmospheric water), and holds less of hydrometric moisture; moreover, it contains a somewhat larger proportion of sand and in- soluble silicates. The sub-soil of the old field is not as rich as the original surface soil. In the chemical report accompanying the State Geological Report of 1877, the following 'analyses of soils from this county are given; Virgin soil from a hill-top on the farm of H. Riley, on the O. & N. Railroad, about fifteen miles from Owensboro, was of a light gray-brown color, contained no gravel, and the bolting-cloth sieve separated from its silicious residue a considerable quantity of fine, rounded quartz grains, both translucent and opaque. About 86^ Digitized by Microsoft® 250 HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOTINTT. per cent, of it was sand and insoluble silicates, 6 per cent oxides of alumina, iron and manganese, and 5i organic and volatile matters. Surface soil from an old field sixty-five years in cultivation, in corn and tobacco principally, now overgrown with sassafras, in the same locality as the preceding, was of a lighter and .more yellow- ish light gray-brown color, containing no gravel, and the silicions residue contained very few small quartz grains. The sand and insoluble silicates constituted 88g per cent, of it, the oxides of alumina, iron^and manganese 7 per cent., and the organic and volatile matters 3 per cent. The sub-soil to the last was of a brownish-yellow ocher color, contained no gravel and a very few fine quartz grains. Of sand and insoluble silicates there was 85? per cent. ; of the oxides of alumina, iron and manganese, lOf, and of organic and volatile, 2f . Upland virgin soil from the farm of Rev. A.. Hopkins, Crow's Station, from the coal measures, was of a brownish umber- gray color, and contained neither gravel nor fine quartz grains. Eighty-six and a half per cent, of it was sand and insoluble silicates, 5} organic and volatile matters, and 5-J- oxides of alumina, iron and manganese. The soil from an old field in the same vicinity, forty years in cultivation, where the substratum is sandstone, was of a dirty buif color, had no gravel or fine silicious sand, had 91 per cent, of other sand and insoluble silicates, 5^ per cent, of the alumina, iron and manganese oxides, and a little over 2|- per cent, of organic and volatile matters. The sub-soil was of a brownish orange-buff color, had no gravel or fine quartzose sand, had 81^ per cent, of other sand and insoluble silicates, 13 per cent, of the alumina, iron and manganese oxides, and a little over three per cent, of organic and volatile matters. The comparative analyses of these soils show the usual influence ■of continued exhaustive culture in the diminution of some of their essential mineral ingredients. The soils are of full average natural fertility; the sub-soils would doubtless benefit the surface if grad- ually brought up in the cultivation, and organic matters supplied by the ameliorating influence of clover and other green crops wholly or partly plowed in. A considerable reserve of the alkalies is seen to be present in the insoluble silicates, which will add greatly to the durability of the soil; but, doubtless, the application of available phosphates, and the use of wood ashes, would be beneficial in increasing the productiveness of the old field soils. Digitized by Microsoft® niSJ'OKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 251 A specimen from a point on the Henderson road one and a half miles from Green River, belonging to the qnarternary formation overlying the coal measures, and where the native trees were white oak, poplar, hickory, etc., and the ground devoted to tobacco, yielded the following results: Color of the dried soil, brownish gray; seventy-four per cent, fine sand, of a dirty buff color, of which twenty-four per cent, was as coarse as bar sand, composed of rounded quartz grains, clear yellow and reddish. One thousand grains of the air-dried soil gave up, when digested in carbonated water for a month, about three and a half grains of brown solid extract, dried at 212°, which consisted mostly of organic and vola- tile matters, with traces of alumina, iron, the usual phosphates, lime, manganese oxide, magnesia, sulphuric acid, potash, soda and silica. The air-dried soil lost only 1.62 per cent, of moisture at 365°, and dried at this temperature it gave, in 100 parts, 92 of silica, 3-^ organic and volatile, 2 each of alumina and iron oxide, and traces of brown oxide of manganese, lime, carbonate, magne- sia, phosphoric and sulphuric acids, potash and soda. This soil, which contains so large a proportion of silicious mat- ter, and but a moderate quantity of organic substances, potash and phosphoric acid, has bpen known to support a very luxuriant growth of tobacco, probably because so much of its nutritious in- gredients were in the soluble condition, as is proved by the large relative proportion of solid extract given by it on digestion in the water containing carbonic acid. This circumstance, how- ever, while it increases its present fertility, hastens the process of exhaustion, under the drain of large herbaceous crops carried off the ground, without any rettirn being made to it in the form of ma- nures. The rapidity with which the tobacco plant robs the soil of its richness is explained by the fact that aboat one fourth of the weight of the dried plant is composed of the mineral matters es- sential to vegetable growth, especially potash, lime, magnesia, soda, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, etc. GOAL. There are probably not less than 10,000 acres of coal in the hill strata of Daviess County, and the strata vary in thickness from a few inches to five feet, yielding coal of nearly all qualities. Bon Harbor. — Coal mines were opened here as early as 1825, the veins about five feet in thickness. There is no place where No. 11 coal is so easily identified by palaeontological observations. The Digitized by Microsoft® 252 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS COtTNTT. coal, about five feet thick, has an occasional clay parting, or is sep- arated by a thin layer of snlphuret of iron and charcoal. It is topped by the black, shabby shales, with great abundance of shells and some remifiins of fishes ; and above it has a soft, calcareous rock, also full of beautifully preserved shells, all species character- istic of this coal. Near Curdsville, opposite this place, on Green River, in Henderson County, No. 11 coal has been worked, and is- here called Cook's upper coal. The coal, four feet thick, has a clay parting; its black shales are full of shells, as at Bon Harbor, and it is covered by two beds of limestone, separated by a bed of coal, dirt and fire clay, six inches thick. The inferior bed of lime- stone is full of shells, but the superior one is black, and without remains of fossils. The coal from "Wolf Hill, about ten miles [southeast of Owens- boro, as analyzed by the State chemist about twenty-seven years ago, proved to be unfavorable to the production of rich gas or much oily matter. The sulphur in its composition is compara- tively small. This coal has a remarkably pure appearance, is deep black and glossy, with some fibrous coal between the layers; but there is no appearance of pyrites and other impurities, except some incrustation of lime sulphate.in the joints. Heated over a spirit lamp, it swells up a little, but does not agglutinate. Specific grav- ity 1.275. Only two per cent of it is ashes. '*Triplett's" coal, four miles southeast of Owensboro, is glossy, pitch black, pretty firm, and seemingly pretty free from pyrites; a little sulphate of lime in the joints; not much fibrous coal be- tween the layers. Over the spirit lamp it softens, swells up and agglutinates; burns with a smoky flame, and leaves a bright, cellu- lar coke. It is probably a good coking coal. Tlie vein is twenty- four inches in thickness. The proximate analysis of this coal yields 6| per cent, of moist- ure, 36 of volatile combustible matters, 51^ carbon in the coke, and 6 of purple-gray ashes. The ashes is ^ silica, ^ alumina and oxide of iron, and the rest lime, magnesia, etc. The ultimate analysis (specimen dried at 212 ® ) yields carbon 7l per cent., hy- drogen 6, sulphur 2, oxygen, nitrogen and loss 15, and ashes 7. Cannel coal exists on the " Mason " lands, or Spice Kidge, above the beds seen on Puppy Creek, and is probably the equiva- lent of a shale bed, into which openings have been made on the farm of Mrs. Bell, near the Telvington and Owensboro road. At. Spice Ridge the opening presents the following section : Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOBT OF DAVIESS COUNTT. 263 HEIGHT THICKNESS. Ft. In. In. ;81aty cannel coal 1 lo 4 Blackish gray argillaceous shales 1 g 7 Firm blocks of cannel coal 11 g Clay shale 5 5 Water line in pit 0 0 Under the water the coal is said to be thicker than above it. Bv sounding the pit appears to have been sunk two feet ten inches below the water lime now in it; the soundings show fire or under clay at the bottom. The physical appearance of the upper four inches is very like the coal of the Breckenridge mine. Near the spring at Mrs. Bell's farm a pit has been sunk eighteen feet deep, which consists of fourteen feet of surface clay, two feet of shale and two feet of under clay, similar to the under clay of coal. On a more elevated part of the same point a pit has been sunk into the same bed, through fifteen feet of surface clay and five feet of soft sandstone, "there reaching water. From the shales raised from below the water lime, fragments of ^sh were obtained, broken and scattered in the shales; no coal was seen, nor the appearance of coal. The coal has thinned out and disappeared. The distance between the Spice ridge and Mrs. Bell's is about two miles in a northwesterly direction, and nearly parallel with the course of the Ohio River. From the Hawesville mines to the locality of Mrs. Bell's there appears to be a general thinning of all the beds composing the Hawesville section. On Puppy Clreek the first sandstone over the Hawes coal has diminished in thickness from eighty-five to thirty- three feet. It would be interesting to science] to determine this precisely. If established it would bring the Hawes coal that much nearer the surface than it has been supposed to be, and thus make the knowledge of the position of that coal of the greatest practi- cal value to the people of Daviess County. Oa the old Moses Iiiglehart farm, about two miles a little north of east from Livermore, a coal-stain makes its appearance in the hillside near the dwelling. When first visited it was supposed to be the outcropping of a bed of some importance, but subsequent examinations have not verified the conjecture. A carbonate iron ore, however, which lies about four feet below the coal-stain, has a very fair appearance and may prove to be of value. This can only be proved by a more extended digging than has yet been Digitized by Microsoft® 254r HISTOET OF DAVIESS COimTT. done, to determine its area, and by chemical analysis to test its purity. The bed ranges from six to nine inches in thickness. It is especially desirable, in order to jndge of tlie value of this ore, to become fully acquainted with its horizontal extent and physical changes, as in some places it seems to pass into a ferruginous lime- stone, which is of no value as an iron ore. Immediately under the iron ore, and sometimes merging into it at the top, a bed of lime- stone about nine inches thick occurs. It weathers with a yellowish surface marked with white splotches. The surface is also marked by drab lumps which are spread over it. The rock seems to be really bare of organic remains; a few small fragments of crinoid columns and some other small fossils were found. On Timor Howard's farm, near John Jones's place, which is about four miles northeastwardly from Riley's Station, a deposit of black slate occurs, moderately rich in bituminous elements and cannel coal-like in structure. This deposit is kfiown in the neigh- borhood as cannel coal ; but it approaches more nearly to cannel slate in its physical characters. The section as exposed in 1875, contained four feet of block bituminous slate that somewhat re- sembled cannel slate, one foot of layer containing iron, two feet of cannel slate and fourteen inches of feriferous layer. On John Jones's land, near his dwelling, a limestone holding considerable bitumen (in cavities) is exposed. In appearance the limestone resembles some of the carboniferous beds, but its identity could not be proved. The presence of bitumen in the rock has caused some to have faith in the existence of a profitable quantity of petroleum on the farm. There does not seem to be in fact, however, any evidence to justify such a belief. There were some unsuccessful borings made for salt on the place several years ago. Sandy shale was penetrated to some depth (which was not very con- siderable), but, so far as can be gathered, the boring was without result of any kind. A few feet above the limestone a coal dirt is exposed on the hillside, and is overlaid by ocherous sandy shale. This coal has been worked near Mr. Jones's and is reported to measure three feet in thickness when well opened. On Mr. T. B . Bratcher's place, near Mr. Jones's, about two and a half miles east of Tichnor's Station, limestone is again found which may be equivalent to that seen at Mr. Jones's, although topographically nearly 130 feet above it. As is the case with the limestone seen at Mr. Jones's, fossils are quite rare in the rock, and only a few crinoid columns Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 255 ■were found. At about fifteen feet above the limestone at Mr. Bratcher's sprinej, an inch or two of coal has been found. Frag- ments of pebbly sandstone are strewn over the slope of the hill. The outcrop of limestone on Mr. Bratcher's place is about two miles west from the the Barrett's Creek salt wells, in Ohio County, at which point the Rough Creek uplift is plainly visible, the Chester beds being brought to the surface there and tilted at high angles. About one mile eastwardly from Tichnor's Station a coal bed has been opened by William Atherton. The bed 's nearly three and a half feet thick, but so far as proven in 1875 was not of excellent quality. From the positions of the poorer portions of the bed, however, it is presumable that when followed further under the hill, beyond the reach of atmospheric agencies, the coal may gain considerably in quality. A few outcrops were seen in other local- ities between Livermore and Riley's Station, a distance of six miles by the railroad, but very little could be determined concerning them. From Riley's Station to Lewis's Station there are ew out- crops, but the surface is less flat than toward Livermore. Within a mile of Lewis's Station the cuts begin to show sandstone and shale. In the cuts just south of the twelfth mile-post (number- ing from Owensboro) a total thickness of twenty-five feet of sand- stone is exposed. This overlies a coal which has opened near the road, on land belonging either to Mr. Field or Mr. Vanarsdal. The bed is reported to be three feet thick. It is covered by bituminous slate, which appears to be sufficiently dense to form a good roof for mining under. The position of the coal is about ten feet below the railroad at the twelfth mile-post. The ground immediately at the present place of opening is not suitable for mining on a large scale, because of the short depth of the coal below the surface. " Strip- ping " seems to be the only convenient means by which the coal may be reached. At the hills, however, where the overlying sand- stone is present, it is possible for the coal to be worked with more profit. An outcropping of the western extension of the bed is found on George N. McKay's land, about west of the twelfth mile- post. Mr. McKay did a little digging in the coal, in a small branch. He estimated the thickness of the bed at three feet ten inches to four feet four inches. The quality and general character of the coal has not been proved, no opening being in a suitable condition for sampling the bed or for studying it sufficiently. From Lewis's Station to Crow's Station, a distance of three miles, a few low hills are seen, but the outcrops are few. Digitized by Microsoft® 256 HI8TOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. At Hickman's, just south of the ninth mile-post from Owensboro, the cuts expose about twenty feet of sandstone. Below the sand- stone, with shale (?) between, a thin coal is exposed, not exceeding sixteen inches in thickness. It is covered by twenty-one inches ot bituminous slate. A number of springs issue from beneath this coal bed, and have a considerable local reputation, the place serv- ing in a modest way as a watering place for the people of Owens- boro. The waters are chiefly chalybeate. Two or three of them contain alum, however, one of them being rather remarkable for the amount of this material it contains. In one of the springs a small amount of copper was found; but the amount is so small that it will not seriously affect the influence of the waters. The " Sulphur," "Brick," and "Yellow" springs are chalybeate — that is, they yield traces of iron. The chalybeate spring near Lewis's Station, and also Dr. Hickman's residence has considerably more iron. From Crow's Station to Owensboro flats are the prevailing features, the " Black " and " Panther Creek " flats filling the larger part of the distance. In the vicinity of Owensboro several coal mines have been opened, all of which are probably in coal D. Two miles and a half below town, at the site of the old Coal Haven factory, eighteen inches of coal is exposed in the bank of the Ohio River. A section at this place exhibited five feet or more of thin-bedded sandstone, ten feet of sandy,. thinly laminated shale, next, an earthy, pyritous, some- what lumpy and calcareous band of about two inches, which abounds in crinoidal columns, and several other interesting fossils, then three feet of dark shale, passing below into a dense, black slate, and lastly about twenty inches of coal. In the hills back from the river coal D has been worked. Barrett's new bank, near the old Bon Harbor mines, exhibits a stratum of coal fifty-two to fifty-eight inches in thickness, ^nd is covered by dense, hard slate. The posi- tion of the coal is about 120 feet above the one exposed at the river, though it may be somewhat less. The upper fourteen inches of the bed is said to be the best. The same bed is worked at Mr. S. M. Dean's mine, which is about one mile and a half below Owensboro. At this bank the coal measures four feet four inches in thickness. At the "Dutch" mine, about one mile and a half above Owensboro the coal worked varies from three and a half to three feet two inches in thickness. At the " Montgomery " mine, near the one men- tioned above, the same coal is worked, and measures three feet two Digitized by Microsoft® HIPTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 257 inches in thickness. The porcontiiJO of snlphur is comparatively h>w in this bed. It is probable that the eoal worked here is an ex- tension of the bed worked below Oweashoro; but the wide differ- ences to be observed between the analysis of the samples collected at the mines below the town and of those collected here would seeiii to indicate a possibility' of their being distinct beds. A coal seam twenty inches thick is reported to have been found ninety feet below the one wrought at these mines. In the eastern part of the county, the Hawes' main coal is about 300 feet below the Lewisport coal, or 260 feet below the surface at the foot of the Lewisport coal mine hill. The extent of the hills between Blackford and Yellow creeks forbids the idea that a very extended field of the bed known as the Lewisport coal, especially as the limestone in the upper part of the section is generally cut in the valleys, leaving quite narrow ridges, containing this bed be- tween them. In fact, the main Hawesville coal is brought above the drainage about two miles northwest of Knottsville, where it was in 1855 worked by Mr. Weisel. The same coal bed can bo seen in outcrop at several places, near Mr. Weisel's, on Pup Creek. This bed is also opened on the north- west side of the ridge half a mile above J. Y. Wathen's. The coal dips rapidly to the northwest from this last opening, bringing the coal down to the branch bottom in a short distance. The sand- stone covering the main Hawes' coal is much thinner here than at the Hawes' mine, or, that another limestone has been intercalated. About sixty feet above the coal, on both sides of the ridg_e, a lime- stone occurs having the general characters of the lower limestone of the section referred to above, especially in the character of the fossils contained in it. Commencing at the bed of the branch, and counting upward, the strata at "Weisel's coal mines in 1855 were found to be as follows : Under clay, two feet ; coal, the top part containing thin layers of shale, four feet, four inches ; bituminous shale, containing lingulse, five feet, eight inches ; sandstone, soft, of a grayish white color, five feet ; soft, yellow sandstone, thirteen feet ; sandstone, weathering into holes, ten feet ; covered space, thirty feet ; limestone, four feet; covered space, forty feet; sandstone, fifteen feet; covered space, twenty-six feet, top of the hill. We are indebted to T. H. Osborne, Local Geologist of this county, for most of the notes following in reference to out-croppings of coal, etc., in the eastern part of the county. 17 Digitized by Microsoft® 258 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. The coal on the waters of Blackford to within a mile of Knotta- ville is thres to four feet, four inches. On Ireland Head, three, miles from Knottsville, the coal crops out four feet thick with a covering of fifty feet of sandstone and shale. One mile east, on the land of Eichard Long, the brown coal occurs, and, like the bitu- minous, is four feet, four inches, in thickness. It shows a woody or slaty structure and is fossiliferous. A half mile from this place, on E. Jarboe's land, on a northwest hill near Pup Creek, there is an out-crop of coal fifty inches thick, underneath sandstone. A mile due east, on Widow Bowles's land, on the Knottsville and Ilawesville road, and a mile from Knottsville, there are three feet of c al, under forty feet of sandstone. On OharJes Clement's land, a mile from the last place, the coal vein is thirty-three inches in thickness. This land is on the Owensboro and Cloverport road one mile above Knottsville. Due east of the last, on George AuU's land", which is on the Whitesville and Knottsville road, the coal has a three-foot vein. A half mile further, on Charles Higdon's land, the coal is fifty- two inches thick. A mile southwest, on Mr. Carico's place, it is thirty inches. Three miles southeast, on 'Squire Anderson's land, between Whitesville and Knottsville, the coal is also thirty inches. This coal lies in pocket. From this point on to Knottsville there seems to be a general thinning of this coal seam. A shaft at George MuUin's flouring mill in Whitesville is sunk, forty feet deep, through twenty-nine inches of coal. On William Clark's farm, in Upper Town Precinct, is found No. 2 peacock coal, thirty inches thick. From A. Clark, Jr.'s to John McFarland's, northeast of Owensboro, outcroppings are seen among the hills. The strata about Hill's bridge, on the McFarland's Mill road, ard in the tidal-wave formation, with upheavals and outcroppings of coal on North Panther Creek. On Barney May's farm, near Panther Creek and about four miles from Owensboro, Mr. Osborne in the latter part of November, 1882, discovered peacock coal thirty inches thick. Indeed, coal can be found in hundreds of places throughout Daviess County, and among them Mr .Osborne lias found outcroppings, stains, etc., on the lands of Albert Clark, near the Litchfield road, four miles from Owensboro; on Jackson Sublette's horse lot, one and a half miles further; on Frank Yew- ell's place, near Zion Church; on the lands of H. B. Pardon* on the Hartford road, three miles from Owensboro; on Mr. Ratt's Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DATIESS COUNTY. 28& three and a half miles from Owensboro; on K. F. Wflkerson's, same vicinity ; on the lands of Thos. H. Higdon, W. J. Clark, etc., etc. Among the Shaw Hills, on the Blackford, and about a mile and a half above its mouth, are three strata of coal, — the highest 315 feet above low-water mark in the Ohio Eiver, and is covered with hard sandstone and limestone. The outcrop ou Blackford near the Knottsville and Hawesville bridge is of the sandstone forma- tion. From the St. Lawrence, church a mile and a half above Knottsville, to Martin Wathen's, is a coal vein varying from twenty-two to thirty-six inches. The coal from the Montgomery mine, a mile and a half above Owensboro (coal D), is of a pure, pitch black, has but little fibrous coal in it, but has some thin scales of pyrites in the seam. That of the Dutch mine is similar. The latter is a " splint " coal, as is also that of Bon Harbor. That of Duncan's bank, near Knotts- ville, splits easily into thin laminae; has considerable fibrous coal and some granular pyrites and pyritic bright scales. LIMESTONE AND SANDSTONE. There is good building stone in nearly all parts of Daviess County. In the Shaw Hills, previously referred to, there is a limestone as good as the Louisville variety. From James Lafoe's to the Han- cock County line the sandstone is fine for building purposes. Quarries are worked here. This stone is underlaid with a blue va- riety good for grindstones and scythe-stones. On John Jones's and Mr. Bratcher's places, about two and a half miles east of Tichenor's Station, limestone exists of good building qualities. Fossils are quite rare in these strata. That on Bratcher's place is topograph- ically 130 feet higher than that of Mr. Jones's. Fifteen feet above the limestone at Bratcher's Spring, an inch or two of coal has been found. Fragments of pebbly sandstone are strewn over the slope of the hill. The outcrop of limestone on Mr. Bratcher's place is about two miles from Barrett's Creek salt wells, in Ohio County, at which point the Rough Creek uplift is plainly visible. The Chester beds are here brought to the surface and tilted at right angles. The four-feet coal in the bed of Blackford Creek lies in the sub- carboniferons limestone, as well as the "anvil rock, " or "shot- pouch sandstone." From the Shaw Hills to James Estes', on the Yelvington road, five miles from the latter place, the same sub- carboniferous limestone prevails, as well as the Averill sandstone. Digitized by Microsoft® 260 niSTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. A few outcrops of coal'are found along the railroad in the sonth- ern portion of the county. Within a mile of Lewis's Station the cuts begin to show sandstone and sluile. In the cuts just south of the twelfth mile-post, numbering from Owensboro, a total thickness of twenty-five feet of sandstone is exposed. This overlies a coal which has been opened near the road, on land belonging either to Mr. Field or Mr. VanArsdal. The bed is reported to be three feet thick. It is covered by bituminous slate, which appears to be suf- ficently dense to form a good roof for mining under. The position of the coal is about ten feet below the railroad at the twelfth mile- post. At Dr. Hickman's, just south of the ninth mile-post, the cuts expose about twenty feet of sandstone. OTHEB MINEEALS. On Alex. Hill's farm, on the southwest side of Panther Creek, shale and ocher are exhibited eight to ten feet thick in the bank. Yel- low ocher and red (keel) of very fine quality are found in this and other places. Iron ore is found in this county, but not in workable quantities. l,ead exists in a stratum three eighths of an inch thick, in a stone quarry between James Lafoe's ^and the Hancock County line. "Floating lead " is also found in small quantities. On the Blackford, about two and a half miles above its mouth, lead is sup- posed to exist, from which the early settlers used to mold bullets. The precise spot is not now clearly identified, but there is a tradition that Indians used to obtain lead at this point, and were engaged in mining it in 1793, when they espied Captain Wm. Hardin in the ear vicinity and captured him. Clay. — There is clay on the farm of Rev. A. Hopkins, near Crow's Station, which is somewhat sandy, of a light-gray color, with ferruginous infiltrations in the fissures, and some '^^'^ obscure vegetable impressions. It contains about fifty per ceni >f fine clear sand. It burns quite hard, turning to a handsoiu lio-ht- salmon color, and hence may be quite valuable for terra coita work, or bricks, or tiles. The air-dried clay lost one and a half per cent, of moisture at 212° Fahrenheit, and as much more of combined water at red heat. It would probably shrink less in the fire than most clays, but would not answer for a fire-clay. Of blue potters' clay a bed or vein ten to fourteen feet thick and ten to fifteen feet below the top of the bank, extends from three miles above to two miles below Owensboro; and a short distance Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOBY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 261 south of thecity is a bed of white clay. A fine English fire-clay was discovered by T. H. Osborne near Whitesville, about three fourths of a mile from Boston Rock crystal, of gravity 2. 5, and mica, gravity 3, are found in this county — the latter on the edge ot the western co41 field, in the St. Louis group. Salt water of excellent quality can be obtained by boring 600 to YOO feet deep. MINERAL SPEIN&S. Two miles north of Calhoon, in the neighborhood of the old "Vienna settlement " on Green Kiver, are the "tar and sulphur" springs. The medicinal substance referred to is a gummy matter which rises to the surface during the night to the extent of a quart or two', and is reputed to be good for sores. Accessible only when the water is low. The waters of Telvington Spring contain free carbonic acid, bi-carbonates of lime and magnesia, salt, a trace of iron, and pos- sibly of an alkaline carbonate. To the latter may be due the flat taste of the water, after it has stood for a time. Part of the mag- nesia may be united with chlorine. If sulphates are present they are in too small quantities to be detected with any degree of certainty without boiling the water down. The Oliver Spring, on the waters of Blackford, gives nearly the same results, except that it contains more iron. Murray's Spring, near Lewis's Station, is chalybeate and saline, anin its chemical reaction neutral. It is doubtless a healthful water. A little over one-thousandth part of it is lime carbonate, and then follow in the order of quantity by weight, magnesia sul- phate, soda sulphate, potash sulphate, iron carbonate, lime sulphate, common salt, etc. Dr. Hickman's springs, near Crow's Station, are named "Alum," "Sulphur," " Brick " and " Yellow." The Alum spring yields a water of strong acid reaction, and is richly impregnated with iron salt. A five-thousandth part of this is solid matter, of which nearly seventy-nine per cent, is iron ^peroxide, nearly fifteen per cent. combined water, five per cent, sulphuric acid (anhydrous), etc. The other springs abound mostly in soda sulphate, magnesia sul- phate, lime sulphate, lime carbonate, common salt, magnesia carbonate, etc. In all these springs are traces of copper, lithia, silica, organic matters, etc., which are so small in quantity as to Digitized by Microsoft® 262 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. require no notice. The alum waters are liiglily astringent, aiid are doubtless too strong for internal use without dilution, in most cases. The saline and sulphur waters are alterative, sliglitly aperient, diuretic, or sudorij&c, and hence depurative, according to the man- ner of their administration under medical advice. As a health resort the above springs have long been noted, and a hotel was built there many years ago for the accommodation of visitors. It was burned down in 1860, and a new, large, frame building erected in 1865 by Dr. W. A. Hickman; also a dwelling house, still larger. Play-grounds were fitted up. The patroiiHge most of the time was larger than could well be accommodated. It is still a favorite place for picnics, although the hotel was closed three years ago. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTEK XII. BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY. The groves were God's first temples. Yea; And they're His holiest temples still. The term ' ' botany " comprises everything that grows in the soil, from the largest tree to the smallest moss. Scientifically, every living organism that subsists upon inorganic matter is a plant, whether it possesses locomotion and sensitiveness or not; while all living organisms that subsist upon organic matter are animals, although some of them are fixed to a spot as most plants are. Daviess County is in a region favorable to the high develop- ment of many species in the vegetable kibgdom. While about 2,300 species of plants are found native in the United States, about 1,600 are found within the State of Kentucky, and fully 1,000 within the limits of Daviess County. In the following paragraphs we will notice only those of interest to the general reader; and we will mention the most conspicuous first, pursuing the following order: 1. Trees which grow to the full forest height. 2. Low trees. 3. Shrubs and bushes, i. "Vines, woody and herbaceous. 5. Native herbs. 6. Weeds, or introduced herbs, growing spontaneously in cultivated and waste places. TALL TEEES. Oaks. — The most conspicuous family of the forest is that ot the ■oaks. There is a greater variety and abundance of them than of any other tree, and, perhaps, in this country, they are the most useful of all. At the head of this family stands the Wliite Oak, which, though the most common species of oak in some sections of the country, is not so abundant in Daviess County as some other species. Being the most useful for general purposes, it has been cut out of the forest more than the others, and thus made relatively scarcer. Bur Oak is abundant, and in general utility is, perhaps, next the White species. Swamp White Oak is rare. A species of Bur Oak called " Post Oak " occurs here and there. Of the oaks which have a black, hard, rough bark, the most (263) Digitized by Microsoft® 264 HISTORY OF DA\IESS COUNTY. prominent are the Scarlet, Ked, Black, Black Jack, Shingle and Water Oaks. The Willow Oak, so called from the form of its leaves, occurs, but is rare. The Black, Scarlet and Shingle oaks are of the first order for fuel, as tliej"^ furnish fully as much heat as hickory, afford ashes strong with lye, and produce good embers and cliarcoal. The other oaks are low trees, and are mentioned under the next sub-head. The Oak family intermix to a great extent — in some localities BO much that it is really difficult for even a scientist to classify them. Elms, — Next to the oaks the White Elm is the most common tree in this county. Its principal value is as a shade-tree, though when sawed thin it is much used for small goods boxes. See next sub-head for the other two elms. Sycamore^ or Buttonwood. — This is the only species of its fam- ily in America, and finds its home in all the Ohio Valley. Used as a street shade-tree here, where it forms beautiful heads, and produces larger leaves than any other tree. Sawed thin its wood makes good material for small boxes. Pojplars. — The Cottonwood is a well-known, large swamp tree, of but little account. The Quaking Asp, or American Aspen, is a true poplar, and is scarce Tulip-Tree. — This is not a poplar, though often so called. It has also been called white-wood and cucumber-wood. It used to be common in this region, but, being very useful for box lumber, it has been pretty well cut out. Walnuts. — The Black Walnut, for its I'ichly-shadcd dark wood, is the most valuable tree of the forest. Specimens in the North have been sold for as much as $1,200 a tree, as they stood on the ground ! Consequently it has become scarce, as a large tree. White Walnut or Butternut, is found occasionallj', and is abundant in some parts of the county. The wood is much used at the pres- ent day for veneering. J/a^^eA'.— Three species of maple are found in Daviess County r 1. Hard, Sugar or Kock, with a variety called Black. 2. Eed or Swamp. 3. White or Silver. The two latter are soft-wooded. The hard maple, or " sugai-tree, " was once abundant here, but is now scHj-ce. Hickories. — These are, botanioally speaking, members of the Walnut family. At the Lead of this class of trees stands the Western Shell-bark, for its fruit and its wood; but it is not so Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUHTT. 265^ common as formerly. Akin to it is the common Shell-bark or Shag-bark, which, by the way, is much more common East than here. The " Small-fruited" Hickory is abundant in this region. Of those bearing soft-shelled nuts, the most common are the Bit- ter-nut and Pig-nut; the next the Mocker-nut, or White-hearted Hickory; and lastly the favorite Pecan. A few specimens are found which, by the fruit, seem to be a cross between the Small- fruited Hickory and the Pecan Ash. — Of this family the White was once the most common; but, being a valuable tree for fuel and lumber, it has become compara- tively scarce. It has also been cp,lled Black Ash, Blue Ash and Gray Ash. The Red Ash, the Green Ash and the true Blue Ash are found in this county, the latter very scarce. The last three are of but little value. The true Black Ash is said to be abun- dant. Lin, Linden or Basswood. — One species was formerly abundant, and one has always been scarce. The latter species has larger leaves, with a silvery white and fine down underneath. Birch.— RivQx or Red Birch occurs along the streams. Catalpa. — Of this there are two species, both rare in this county. One is much more hardy than the other, and valuable for fence- posts, etc. Its time of flowering is three weeks earlier than the tenderer kind. It was formerly common. Specimens have been found over four feet in diameter. HacTcberry. — A few specimens of this tree are still found. It belongs to the Elm family and is not a valuable tree. Cofee Tree. — This denizen of the forest has always been rare. The tree is best known by its beautiful compound leaves and glossy beans. Honey Locust. — Common. Valuable for hedges, and in the ex- treme northern portion of the Union it is hardier "than Osage Orange, and therefore better for this purpose. Sweet Gum. — This tree has somewhat star-ihaped leaves, yields a fragrant white gum, and that which grows among other tall trees yields the most valuable lumber, taking the place at once of pine, walnut and cherry. This was originally one of the most abundant of trees, but it is now reduced to one fourth or less. Although the botanists recognize but one species here, difference of situation produces so great a difference that the people say there are at least two varieties, — the yellow or red wooded and the white-wooded, the first mentioned being valuable and the other almost or quite worthless. Digitized by Microsoft® 366 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. '^ Black Oum," a^Wei. also Sour Gum, Pepperidge, Nyssa and Tupelo, is not at all akin to the preceding. It grows to full forest height. Its black, acid berries are not edible. It is still plentiful. The wood is good only for hubs of wheels, etc. The true Black Gum is rare. Cherry. — The "Wild Black Cherry is common, and reaches its greatest perfection here. Beech. — This very common tree of the Lake region and the East was formerly represented by a few specimens in this county. Cypress. — iThe American Bald Cypress may possibly be found in J>av\e83 County. It is common south of Green River. Sorrel- wood, Cucumber-wood and Snow-drop tree are very rare in this region; and the Umbrella tree may possibly occur here. LOW TEEES. While a few under the preceding head scarcely ever reach the lieight of the tallest forest tree, those which we shall enumerate under, this head never reach the average height of the forest, and range dow^n to less than twenty feet, where they mingle, in classi- fication, with "bushes" and shrubs, treated under the next sub- head .ffZw*.-*— The Slippery, or Red, and the Winged occur here and tbere. Oak. — Post Oak and Black Jack are common. Buckeye. — ^Thp Smooth Ohio, or Fetid Buckeye occurs in the river bottoms, but has always been scarce. Paiispom. — Well known throughout the Ohio River Valley for its banana-like fruit, which some persons learn to like as an article of diet. To "learn to like" them one must merely taste of them, at times far apart, and when hungry and under the most favorable circumstances. Even then many will fail. Persimmon. — Common and more edible than the preceding. Persons abroad do not know much about them, from the fact that they cannot be shipped to a great distance. Before they are per- fectly soft they are inedible, and after that they decay too rapidly for shipping to market. Some one might make a little money at idryhig and canning them. Persimmon trees four feet in diameter have been seen here. MuTberry. — This occurs here, but, as everywhere else, is rare. CrcAdpple. — Two species are found here, but neither is as abundant as elsewhere. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 267 Thorn. — There are five species of thorn in this region, gener- ■ally known as Red Haws. The moat common are Black or Pear, ihe Cockspur, the "Washington and the Scarlet-fruited. Box-Elder, or Ash-leaved Maple was formerly common, but is now scarce. Red Bud, or Judas Tree, is common in this vicinity, and is Tifell known by its purplish crimson tops in early spring before the leaves appear. Hed Cedar occurs, but is rare. Sassafras and Sjpioe Bush, almost the only two members of the Laurel family in the United States, are both common in this ■county. The latter, however, is a shrub, and is becoming scarce. Sassafras four feet four inches in diameter have been found in Daviess ■County. Service or June Berry. — Rare. Alder.— -The Smooth and Hoary Alders, of the Birch family, and Black Alder or -Winterberry, of the Holly family, occur in this county. Dogwood. — The Flowering Dogwood is a common low tree; the other dogwoods are mentioned under the next sub-head. Hop Homieam and Water Beech found occasionally, as also the Southern Buckthorn. Wafer Ash, a tree whose bark and leaves yield a fetid odor, is sometimes found. Is sometimes also called Hop Tree and Shrubby Trefoil. The Common or "Black " Locust is native here. Holly. — One species of holly may occur in wet grounds. Willows. — Six species of willows are found in this county, rang- ing from shrubs to small trees. BUSHES AND SHBUBS. Dogwoods (the Silky and the Panicled Cornels), Butter Bush, Palse Indigo, "Wild Hydrangea, Burning Bush, Bladdernnt, Com- mon Elder, three species of Sumach, Wolf berry, Coralberry, "Wild Black Currant, two species of Gooseberry, Black Haw, "White Rod, Shrubby St. John's wort. Mistletoe, Spice Bush, Prickly Ash, -Calico Bush (or Ivy), Holly-leaved Oak, Alder Buckthorn, Choke Cherry, Choke Berry, two species of Plum, and two species of Hazlenut are about aU that come under this head in Daviess ■County. Digitized by Microsoft® 268 H18T0ET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. VINES. Orape. — The Winter or Frost Grape is common, but the Sum- mer Grape, a delicious fruit, is very scarce, if indeed it can b& found at all in this county. In early days it was common, but the vines have been destroyed by reckless grape-gatherers. The Catawba is escaping from cultivation. The Virginia Creeper, or American " Ivy," is abundant throughout the West. Poison Ivy. — This occurs almost everywhere, sometimes as a. small shrub, when it is called Poison] Oak, and sometimes as a large vine reaching to the top of the tallest tree. It has i^iree leaflets to each leaf, whUe the Virginia Creeper has five; andyoung^ Box-Elder is distinguished from" Poison Ivy by whitish bloom cov- ering the leaf-stems and green twigs of the former. Virgin's Bower occurs but rarely. Moonseed is common everywhere. This has erroneously been called Sarsaparilla. Its round, yellow roots have a tonic bitter taste. Climhing Bittersweet is a twining, woody vine, found occasion- ally. It bears orange-colored berries, in clusters which are con- spicuous in autumn, resembling wax-work, by which term they |ir& indeed sometimes called, and have been used in ornamentation. This vine is also called simply Bittersweet, but the true medJcal Bittersweet is a plant of an entirely different order and appearance,, not a vine, and not growing wild in this county. Yetches. — ^This term may comprise several small herbaceous- vines of the pea and bean family, occurring frequently in the woods, but of no great consequence. Hop. — Occasional. Wild Pea Vine, or Hog Peanut, is abundant. Wild Balsam Apple, called also Wild Cucumber, and by many other local names, is a vigorous, herbaceous vine, bearing a bur- like fruit, like that of the Jimson-weed, and flourishing about cul- tivated grounds. Morning-glory. — The most common plant of this order, growing spontaneously beyond the bounds of culj;ivation, is the Hedge Bindweed, or Eutland Beauty. Eight species of Dodder ("Love- vine") may be found, all rare except one. It appears like orange- colored thread growing on the tops of weeds. Bindweeds. — Black Bindweed, arrow-leaved Tear-thumb, and climbing false Buckwheat occur here and there. The firs-t men-^ tioned is sometimes a pest in fields. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 269 Wild Yam, Green Brier, Carrion Flower, etc., are common in the woods. Besides the above, there are several species of plants which are sometimes called vines, but are not strictly such. They grow mostly prostrate on the ground, but neither climb nor twine; for examples. Goose-grass, Bracted Yervain, Yellow Honeysuckle, etc. NATIVE HERBS. The most common wild herbacious jjlants, especially in earlier days, were wild Sunflowers, Coneflowers, Spanish Needle, Stick- seed, Tick-seed, Eosin-weed, Sneeze-weed, Yarrow, Asters, Flea- banes, Golden-rods, Thoroughworts, Iron-weeds, Fire-weed, This- tles, Catch-fly, Wood-sorrel, Spring Beauty, Anemones, Violets, Milkweeds, May- Apple, Loosestrife, "Wild Parsley, Dogbane, Sweet Ciceley, Bedstraw (Cleavers and Goose-grass), Gerardia, American Pennyroyal, Wild Mint, Water Hoarhound, Giant Hys- sop, Red and Yellow Puccoon, Beggar's-Lice, Wild Pliloxes (Sweet William), Ground Cherry, Eich-weed, Potentiila, Wild Touch-me- not, Three-seeded Mercury, Horse-tail, Cat-tail, Arrow-head Tril- liums, Solomon's Seal, Spider-wort, and the Ferns. Ginseng, locally called " sang," was common in early day, but, on account of its marketable value, it has been about all eradicated from our woods; and for the same reason, its supposed value, it has never been considered a weed. In addition to the foregoing, we may add the following, as oc- -curring more rarely, but were still frequent and *were either prominent or interesting in some feature: Adam and Eve, Adder's Tongue, Agrimony, Alum-root, Avens, Baneberry, Beard-tongue, Black Snakeroot, Blood-root, Blue Flag, Bog Eush, Boneset, Buck Bean, Bull Eush, Bush Clover, Cardinal Flower, Club Eush, ■Cohosh, Columbine, Cress, Crowfoots, Cudweed, Culver's Physic, Dragoon-root, Dry Strawberry, Dutchman's Breeches, Enchanter's Nightshade, Evening Primrose, Feverwort, Fog-fruit, Fool's Parsley, Foxglove, Gentians, Goat's Eue, Golden Alexander, Greek Valerian, Groundnut, Groundsel, Hawk-weed, Hedge Nettle, Herb Eobert, Hibiscus, Horsemint, Honewort, Hound's Tongue, Indian Turnip, La'dies' Slipper, Lead Plant, Leafcup, Leek, Liverwort, Lousewort, Lupine, Marsh-mallow, Marsh-mari- gold, Meadow Eue, Monkey Flower, Mouse-ear, Mugwort, Nettle, Pepper-and-Salt, Pond -weed. Pond Lily, Prairie Burdock, Eue Anemone, Seltheal, Seneca, nakeroot. Squill Star-grass, Trum- Digitized by Microsoft® 270 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. pet-weed, Venus' Looking-glass, Yirginia Snakeroot, Wake Kobin, Waterleaf, Water Parsnip, Water Plantain, Wild Ginger, Wild Indigo, Wild Larkspur, Wild Rye, Wild Pepper-grass, Wild Sar- saparilla, Wild Touch-me-not, Worm-seed, Yellow Pond Lily. WEEDS. These are introduced herbs, growing spontaneously in cultivated and waste grounds. These, of course, have not been purposely introduced from the East and from Europe, but their seeds have been unavoidably brought West in the shipment of goods and otherwise: The most familiar weeds in this section of country are Smart- weed, Knot-weed, Pig-weed, Thorny Amaranth, Lamb's Quarter, Dog-Fennel or May -weed. Bull- Nettle, Jimson, Poke, Indian Mallow, Pursley, Spurge, Shepherd's Purse, Pepper-grass, Chick- weed, Common Mallows, Gill, Bouncing Bet, Milkweed, several species. Silk-weed, Eigwort, Motherwort, Catnip, Hoarhound, Mullein, four Vervains, Burdock, Cocklebur (both Common and Spiny), Black Nightshade, Dandelion, Toad Flax, Sow Thistle, Sneeze-weed, Iron-weed, Plantain, Goosefoot, Rich-weed, Rag- weed, Horse-weod, Camphor-weed, etc. The Thorny Amaranth has been introduced since the commencement of the last war, apparently from the South. Clover and grass, as they grow on the commons, are scarcely considered weeds, on account of their great utility to live stock, while many field and garden plants, when cultivated for their products are considered useful, are weeds when they come spon- taneously in the way, obstructing the desired cultivation of other plants. Plants "escaping from cultivation," as Spider-flower, or Cleoine, Bouncing Bet, Bittersweet, Parsnip, Stonecrop, Sunflower, Prince's Feather, Lungwort, Horse Radish, Gill, Indian Heliotrope, Morning Glory, Buckwheat, etc., are weeds or not weeds, accord- ing to whether they come in our way or not. The term "botany" includes all mushrooms, toadstools, mildew, rust, etc., varying in size from that of a flour barrel to a micro- scopic point. Most fungi are microscopic, and maay living germs are so minute and so low in the scale of organization that they are neither vegetable nor animal. The germs of decay are living "organisms," not known to be either vege- table or animal, and are mostly of the species called "Bac- Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOET OF DAVIESS OOUKTY. 271 terium." Nearly all discolorations of leaves are due to the presence of minute fungi or kindred organisms, which are as symmetrical as wheels, and often beautiful. Pear-blight and apple-blight are now believed to be caused by bacteria or otlier germs of disease, and nearly all diseases of plants, as well as many affections among men, are now supposed by the medical profession to be caused, or at least accompanied, by 9nch germs, in countless millions. The amateur botanist, at the present day, finds but little interest in rambling through the woods of Kentucky, because by pasturage nearly all the native plants are killed out, and their place supplied by a few insignificant weeds and grasses. But the seeker after fungi, mildews, rusts, etc., finds a much richer field than he could have found fifty or seventy-five years ago. "Malaria" signifies bad air; and the badness consists of disease germs, but it is not known whether these are vegetable or animal or neither. These germs are very numerous in their genera and species, and most of them are always more or less present. Hence it is always better to counteract them by preserving a vigorous state of the body than by seeking antidotal poisons. ZOOLOGT. This term refers to the whole animal kingdom, and as a science is divided into "Zoology," in the narrowest sense, which is the nat- ural history of quadrupeds, ornithology (of birds), hepetology (of reptiles), entomology (of insects), etc. Quadrupeds. — ^The most conspicuous wild animals of pioneer times in this part of Kentucky were bnffalo, elk, deer, bears, wolves, panthers, jaguars, wild-cats, wild hogs, foxes, raccoons ("coons"), opossums ("possums"), skunks (or " pole- cats"), ot- ters, beavers, musk-rats, minks, weasels, ground-hogs (or "wood- chucks"), squirrels, rabbits and moles. As a rule the larger species disappeared first, and the smaller, most of them, remain until the present time. First the bnffalo and elk disappeared, then bears, panthers, deer, beaver, etc. The smaller native quadrupeds have generally become very scarce, while those of civilization, as rats and mice, have become abundant. In some of the wilder parts of the county there may yet be seen occasionally a deer, a wolf, a panther, or a wild-cat. The gray fox has mainly become extinct ; there are some red foxes yet. Opos- sums are nearly all gone. Their flesh is eaten by many persons,. Digitized by Microsoft® ■273 HIBTOET or DATIKSS OOTJKTT. baked with sweet potatoes. There are a good many raocoona yet, especially in the flats of Panther Creek. They are caaght with traps, and by treeing them, and by chasing after them by their tracks in the snow. Skunks, otters, aiid weasels are very rare. There are a goodly number of musk-rats and minks. Wild hogs ■were the descendants of stray domestic individuals. In some see- tions they used to be common, but they disappeared about the time that " hog cholera" came about. Ground-hogs are still found occa- sionally. Squiri-els are still abundant in some localities, especially daring seasons of mast. The gray squirrel predominates in numbers. ,No black specimens have been reported, although, of course, Bom« may have existed. Flying squirrels exist in this section. Moles are quite abundant. Bi/rds. — The species of fowls inhabiting this country are too nu- merous to mention here. All exist to this day that have ever flourished here; but the wild turkey, being a good game bird and very large, has of course become very scarce. Quails are still common. In the city of Owensboro the English sparrow is beginning to multiply, which the citizens will probably regret in the future. In early times a great migration or raid often took place, of p|g- eons, wild turkeys, squirrels, etc. Pigeons would sometimes darken the sky for hours as they flew over, and bend and break down Ihe boughs of the trees when they roosted. Squirrels would some- times migrate in immense numbers, swimming the streams, when they would be easily caught and killed. The pioneers have many interesting experiences to relate qon" -cerning the chase and wild animals generally. A large volume could easily be filled with entertaining anecdotes. A query for naturalists is the curious fact that while fox squirrels and cranes are abundant, or often seen, on the Indiana side of the river within a mile of this city, they are never seen on this side ; and strange enough, the gray squirrel to be found anywhere on this side is rarely or never seen oh the Indiana shore. "We are further informed that the ground squirrel, so common everywhere, is almost - unknown in Daviess County, although in the adjoining counties of Ohio, Muhlenburg and McLean they are numeroiis. The scarcity of rock in this county is given as a reason of the absence of the latter. Reptiles. — The hard-shelled or snapping turtle, the soft-shelled, the land and map turtle, are all common. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIBSS COUNTY. 27S Of snakes in this region, the most noted are the moccasin, the timber rattlesnake, black racer, which is plentiful, black and garter snakes, spreading viper or adder, milk or house snake, copper- head, American ring-snake and the grass snake. These reptiles, however, are all diminishing in numbers, as the county becomes more densely populated. A black snake fifteen feet long and fif- teen or twenty inches girth was said to exist in 1870, on the farm of Mrs. James Shipp, near Owensboro. It had been seen occa- sionally for eight or ten years previously. Three or four species of lizard abound in Jiis region, but, like the toads, they are innocent and of no consequence. Fish. — About all the fish that are found in Western waters are found also within the limits of Daviess County; and this county is well favored with good fishing waters, — the Ohio River, Green River, Panther Creek, and numerous other creeks and ponds. All the game fish, especially the finer kinds, are much scarcer at the present day than in early ti; les, but there are State laws prohibit- ing their wanton destruction. The best kinds referred to are the black or green, and the striped or rock bass, weighing. three to seven pounds; the "jack" salmon, the bachelor perch, the white or drum perch, pickerel and cat. The white perch and bufi'alo are abundant in the Ohio River. Of cat there are three kinds — the Mississippi, the channel, and the mud or yellow. Of the first mentioned specimens have been caught in the Ohio River weigh- ing as much as 150 pounds. Cat fish and shovel fish are still plen- tiful. They are much alike in their appearance, and in the quality of their flesh. A few native carp may be found in the tributaries to the Ohio. The bream, or "tin mouth," is a ravenous, speckled, flat fish sometimes caught, but it is not a fine game fish. It averages about two pounds in weight, and furnishes good food for the table. The redhorse is very rare. The two principal varieties of minnows are the silver-sides, or shiners, and the chubs. Nine other species exist here. Eels occur in respectable numbers, and there are a few river sturgeon and sun-fish. Considerable interest is now manifested in fish-farming, and in introducing new kinds of food fish. Both the General Government and the Commonwealth of Kentucky are aiding the citizens here in this noble enterprise, and the prospects of success are said to be encouraging. The German carp was first introduced into Daviess County in 1880, and this fish has been known here to* attain ■■' 18 Digitized by Microsoft® 3*74 HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS OOTrNTT. weight of one pound and a length of fourteen inches within nine months. Many applications were made for. fry in the winter of 1881-'2, but the Government could not supply the demand until the following fall, when Mr. Geo. V. Triplett received about forty lots of twenty each, and distributed them to the applicants. Some persons say they do not like the taste of this fish, but its advocates claim that a failure in the cooking must have been the cause of the trouble. The receipt for preparing them is somewhat peculiar. California salmon and Potomac shad, planted in this county, are beginning to .weigh about two pounds. Among the' useless or noisome fish, the gar (fresh- water gar) is still abundant, as it probably ever will be. Occasionally an " alli- gator gar" is caught in the Ohio River, sometimes as much as five feet long. Dog-fish, gourd-seed or grinnell, the skip-jack, suckers and a few more unimportant fish are found. WILD BEES vxi honey were abundant during the " wild " days of Daviess County's career. The old settlers all have experiences to relate in conneotion with bee-hunting and discovery of large yields of honey. For ten -or fifteen years past scarcely a bee-tree has been found. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTEK XIII. METEOROLOGY. The climate of this region is very pleasant most of the year, and ^ell calculated for the fullest development of all the common crops of this country. There has not been kept within the limits of Daviess County what is called a " meteorological station, " but we are exceedingly fortunate in being offered the use of an extraordi- nary diary, faithfully kept by Mr. Joseph Thomas, of Owensboro, for about thirty years, commencing with Jan. 22, 1844, the Monday after his first marriage. This diary is a marvel of a daily record of events, of the weather, and of fine penmanship and correct spelling. Little did he think, thirty-eight years ago, that he would live to see the substance of it or any part of it in print like this, in a, large book ! As he generally kept his thermometer in an unoccupied room in the house, or in the entrance hall, about ten to fifteen degrees must be subtracted from the figures in the first part pf the following record, for the winter months, to obtain the true temperature out of doors. We have selected and compiled from the diary; to print all of it would make nearly two volumes the size of this. The war record and miscellaneous matters appear elsewhere in this work. For the purpose of this chapter we give only twenty-two years (1844-1^65), which is abundant to show the nature of the climate of Daviess County. DIABT or ^JOSEPH THOMAS. 1844. Jan. 22. — The winter up to this date has been one of unusual mildness, having had no snow of any depth or any ice sufficient to skate on. For two months it has rained almost incessantly, and the river has been very high, for the season. Jan. 25. — Became much colder and by Jan. 27, the ice was hard enough to skate on. By Jan. 29, it was thick enough to put up. Jan. 30. — Ice melting rapidly, for a few hours. (375) Digitized by Microsoft® 276 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Thermometer during the last ten days of the month, 20°to61i° Four days were cloudy, with rain or snow. Feb. 1. — Becomes warm, with hard rain. Feb. 2-10. — Unpleasantly cool, with rain. Feb. 11-21. — Very pleasant for the season. Beautiful spring weather the last five days. Feb. 25-29. — Changeable, but av^eraging warm for this time of the year. River falling, but still navigable for large boats. Thermometer during the month, 29°- to 67°. March. — This month came in stormy — high winds and rain. The first day was very warm. March 1-14. — Disagreeable; roads muddy; river high enough for large boats in the channels. March 14-21.— Yariable — snow, rain, and fair weather. March 21-27. — Pleasant and warm. River falling rapidly. March 27-29.— Rainy. March 30. — Snow covered the ground in the morning, but was melted away by 2 p. m. March 31. — Clear and cool. Thermometer for the month 37° (on the 2lBt) to 75° (on the 25th). April. — 1-14, pleasant, warm, clear; roads in good order. Biver falling, but high enough for large boats. Seven steamers paned up in one hour. Trees put forth their leaves, and by the middle of the month they were in full foliage. Health of the community good. Thermometer, 42° to 85° May.— 1-2, cloudy and warm ; 3-7, clear; 8-15, mixed;. 16-1 7. rainy; 17-31, occasional showers; worms destructive to crops; 25, lightning struck the court and market house, but did little injury, although the latter was filled with men. Thermometer, 60° to 90° June. — 1-13, variable; 14-22, rainy, and to 31, very rainy and warm. River falling. Therm'ometer 60° to 88°, but seemingly hot- ter during the rainy portion of the month, on account of the op- pressiveness of the atmosphere. Mississippi higher than at any time since 1785. July. — This month came in rainy and hot; roads muddy; river high, the bar being covered; 20-31, river falling fast. Thermome- ter during the month 73° to 94^°. Atmosphere much of the time oppressive. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OP DAVIESS OOHNTT. 277 August. — 1-10, hot, the three o'clock observations of the ther- mometer indicating 85° to 90°; clear and calm; river still in good order; 8-17, air more bracing; 18-31, slightly cooler. September. — 1-10, pleasant; river rising a little, and the Fawn resumes regular trips; 18-20, hot; 21, cool; 22-30, river low again and no boats going up; can walk dry-shod from French Island to Indiana. Pigeons flying. The month generally pleasant. Mercury 49° to 92°. October. — Pleasant. Some frost. Large boats running. Five foggy and ten. cloudy days. Thermometer 38° at 7 a. m. to 80° at 3 p. M. November. — 1-10, clear and pleasant; 10-12, rain, which was much needed. Large boats running. Extremes of thermometer (7 A. M. to 8 p. M. observations), 33° to 81°. December. — 1-8, stormy, — high winds and rain; 9-14, clear, but not very cold; 15 to 31, generally calm, and nothing remarkable. Extremes in thermometrical observations, 18° to 66°. 1845. January. — Calm, pleasant and healthful; river in good order; 11, snow deep enough for sleighing. Thermometer, 32 to 68. No ice yet of sufficient thickness for storage. February.— 1-9, cool, 27° to 50°; 10-12, warmer; 13-19, cooler; 20-22, warm; 23-28 moderate. River in good stage; no ice thick enough for storage during the whole winter. Thermometer during the month ranged from 27i° to 64°. On the 14th a most beautiful rainbow. arch.— Thermometer, 32° to 73°. Eiverhigh. Public health good. A pleasant month. April.— 1-16, clear and bracing; 15-18, rainy, but river low and falling; 19-31, dry, and river very low; large boats not running. Thermometer ranged from 39° on the 8th to 90° on the 24th. May.— 1, warm,— 72°; 2-9, cooler,— 49° to 72°; river rising slowly; 10-31, warm and generally clear; river falling again. Health of people good. June. — 1-9, warm and dusty; thermometer at 3 p. m., 80° to 93° ; 9, hard rain; but little tobacco set out; crops promise to be light; river commences to rise, and by the 25th attained a good stage. Extremes of temperature, 63° to 93°; 19-28, several rains. july._l_7, pleasant; 8-31, hot. Four rainy days during the month; most of the days, flying clouds. Eiver fell during the Digitized by Microsoft® 278 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTr. month, until it got very low. Crops more promising. Average heat during the month, at three p. m., 85f ° ; extremes, 62° to 94° . August. — Pleasant; streets dusty until the 8th, when at seven p. M. occurred one of the hardest rains ever witnessed here, with wind and lightning. Trees and light buildings were blown down. Average .heat during the month, 81°. Only the smallest boats can ply the river. For clearness, cloudiness and fogs the month was about equally characterized. September. — 1-5, intensely hot, the 3d being the hottest day of the season, — 89°, 95°, 90°. Cool nights set in. People becoming sickly. A number of deaths of eminent citizens. Two or three frosts during the month. Extremes of temperature, 32° (during the night of the 21st) to 95° on the afternoon of the 3d. October. — Pleasant; temperature, 42° at 7 a. m. on two mornings to 78° on the afternoon of two days. River in good order. Public health better. A fine, dreamy Indian summer. November. — Indian summer nearly all the month, — frosty mornings and sunny days; 4, heavy frost and ice; 23, sudden cold; 26, snow; 27, 19° out doors; 28, 3° below zero out doors; 29, 30,, very cold. December. — 1-8, cold; 9, warmer; 10-18, moderate; ice prevents navigation; 19-27, very cold; 28-31, much milder; 31, ice running out. Ice got to be three or four inches thick during the month. 1846. January. — Ice heavy enough to put in store, but a part of the month the Ohio was navigable. No storms. Record of temper- xtu'-e omitted. February. — Ditto. March. — Nothing noteworthy. April. — Temperature 50° to 74° . A little rain, but no storms. May. — 1-13, rain almost every day, and river rising; 14-31,. warm and cloudy, but not much rain. June. — Rainy and river in good order. Thermometer, 61° to 88°, July. — 1-14, hotter and hotter; 15, cooler; 16, 17, fire necessary; warmer again until 28, when it was very hot; 29-31, hot. A fair amount of rain during the month, but river went down until the 28th, when it commenced to rise rapidly. August. — Hotter until the 7th (94°), then steadily warm until the 24th, when it dropped to 68° at 7 a. m., then warm until the close of the month. River very low. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY 01" DAVIESS cothsttt. 279 The summer, on the whole, was very wet — not a week of clear weather Bince spring. Crops, tolerable; corn, very fine; tobacco, poor and worm-eaten; peaches, large and abundant; melons, poor; garden vegetables, fine. General good health prevailing. September. — "Warm, 8th and 9th particularly hot, and 16th a sudden cooling. People unusually healthy. Latter part of the month very dry. River low. October. — This month came in pleasant, and continued so, on aa average, throughout the month. The first frost of the season came on the 18th, and was a severe one. Some ice during the remainder of the month. Indian summer, especially the 24th and after. Navigation was stopped by low water about the middle of the month ; between the 22d and 25th it rose so as to be navigable for any boat, and by the last of the mouth it was almost as low as ever. November. — 1-2, rainy; 3-17, clear, hazy, cloudy and warmer, except 5th, when there was frost; 18-20, rainy; 21, frost; 24, first snow, which the wet ground melted as fast as it came; 25, wintry morning; 26-30, cold and cloudy. December. — Exceedingly mild ; 2, 7, 8 and 16, rainy ; very little clear weather; the latter part of the month warm enough to sit without a fire. 1847. January. — 1, raining and blowing in the morning ; cleared ofi^ by noon ; 1-6, mild ; 6-12, very cold ; all the ice-houses in town tilled with ice at least four inches thick; 10, ground covered with snow; 11, 9° below zero out of doors; 15, 61° to 69°; 16,31° in house; 19, 2° above zero out of doors; 23, thawing fast; 26, splendid ice, six inches thick. February. — Nothing remarkable in the weather. March. — 1-10, rather cool; 11, heavy snow, which probably would have measured twelve or fifteen inches in depth had it not been thawed away by the warm and wet ground; it snowed all day without intermission; river very high; 21, more snow; 25-31, very warm for the season, — 35° to 75°; 31, no gardening done yet. Roads impassable. April. — Cool; spring backward; wet; 18, ice in the morning; latter part of the month dry. May. — River falling; weather constantly rainless, and the ground is baked and the roads dusty; 3, white frost; 8, very cool, 60° the warmest part of the day. Digitized by Microsoft® 280 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. June. — Pleasant enough ; rain suflScient for the crops, which are promising, although corn is not over knee high in many places; 8, 23, 26, 27, oppressively warm. July. — Hot as usual, the 13th being oppressively hot; 10-20, dry; 21-27, occasional showers. August. — Pleasant, — some warm and some cool weather; 88° the highest; latter part of the month, very little rain. Crops good. September. — Unsurpassably pleasant as to temperature, but very dry and dusty; 15 and 29, frost. October. — -Pleasant; heavy frost on the 13th, 15th and 27th; river very high by the 26th. Public health good. November. — 7, thermometer 76° and a severe storm ; otherwise the month was variable but without extremes; several rainy days; 25, snowed. December. — 1-14, pleasant; river very high; 14, snowed all day, reaching a depth of 16 inches; drifted some places to a depth of four feet; 14-31, cool; river falling. 1848. January. — 1-8, warm and disagreeable, but the public health good; 9, very cold; 10, only 2° above zero; the rest of the month clear and moderately cold. February. — No extremes. March. — Nothing remarkable. Gardens made during the middle of the month. The first week was cold, but from the 10th onward it grew warmer. April. — Two or three light frosts; otherwise nothing remarkable. May. — Thermometer 51° to 86°. Several hard rains. June. — Thermometer 59° to 89°. Rain moderate. July. — 58° to 89°. Very wet; wheat much injured. August. — Most of the month cloudy; middle portion sultry. September. — Half cloudy. One hard rain. October. — 18, first ice. Weather average for the season through- out the month. November. — 32° to 55°. A little rain on the 4th, considerable on the 11th, and the first snow on the 25th. December. — First half of the month rainy, muddy, chilly; 9, Panther Creek higher than ever known. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOUNTT. 281 1849. January. — Still wet and disagreeable, near the freezing point. February.— Thermometer 10° to 63° in the hall, averaging rather cool. About the 19th some fine ice was stored. March. — Yery fair spring weather. Gardens made early. April. — Frost on 2d and 15 th. May. — Temperature in the open air, 56° to 79°; rain rather lim- ited. June. — Sultry; rain abundant. July. — 9 and 10 the sultriest days. Some lain the first part of the month, and but little toward the last, — which is the average for this month. Wheat crop ruined by rust. August. — A hot month, with a very little rain. September. — Dry and warm; river low. October. — 1-6, fair and comfortable; 6, disagreeable, raw; 13-31, beautiful weather. November. — Thermometer 32 77° Dry autumn; beautiful weather. December. — Thermometer 10° in an unoccupied room in the house, to 52°; 10, snow; 2 and 15, drizzle; 21 and 28, rain; 30, snow. A rather cool, raw month. 1850. January. — 13, snow eight inches deep; 7, 16, 18, 20, 24 and 25, Tain. February. — 3, very cold; 4, mercury down to 7 in the house; 13, 14, sleet and rain, and roads in an awful condition ; 14, heavy snow; 25, hard rain; 28, storm. March. — 1-8, cool, windy and raw; 10, some ice; 17, hail fell at 4 p. M., as large as parti'idge eggs; 22, rainy and cold; 23-25, ice; 26, snow three inches deep; 27, 28, thick ice; 29-31, more spring- like. April. — 7, heavy frost; 13, still wintry; 14, ice covered with snow; 18-23, cold rains. May.— 1-11, cool; 6, frost; 12-15, heavy rains; spring backward; farmers planting but little. June. — 1, cool; ^-8, much warmer; 26, very hot day; wheat rust- ing; 23-29, most lovely nights. July.— 1-4, hot; 5-6, oppressively hot; 6, hard rain; 14, light rain nearly all day; 27-31, showery. Wheat crop ruined by rust. Digitized by Microsoft® 282 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. August. — Hot; 9, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, sultry and tedious; 10, at 3p.m.. a terriiic .storm, the wind a hurricane, doing considerable damage; 27-28, rather too cool in the morning to sit without a fire. September. — Warm; 4, heavy rain in the night; 14, river very low. October. — 26, ice and frost; 31, warm, 69°. November. — 8, heavy frost and ice; 16, first snow, but light; 26, severe thunder-storm; 27, more rain. Month average for temper- ature. River rising. December.— 5, sl^ei; 7, snow; 8, very cold; 12, rain; 14, misty; 19, drizzly; 22, rain all day; 28, drizzly. River high and rising. 1851. January. — 1-5, moderate; 7-9, spring-like; 10-29, moderate; 28, stormy; 30-'31, cold; good ice. February. — 1-7, moderate; 8, 9, spring weather; 10-28, average; 17, etc., river rising; 23, hard storm; 27, rain and hail. March. — 1-6, raw; 7-9, windy; 8, ice; 12, frost; 15, beautiful rainbow; 25, frost middle of the month, trees budding; last part, warm. April. — 1, warm; 4 and 12, rain; 15, light frost; 21, cold; 22, frost and thin ice; 30, cool. Frequent showers during the month. May. — 1, chilly; 2, heavy frost and thin ice; many things dam- aged; 6, heavy frost again; peaches nearly all killed; 10, warm; 16, very hot; 17, hard rain; 20-31, dry and warm. ]S"early every kind of fruit was destroyed during the month. June. — 1-12, dry; 13 and 15, rain ; 30, hot during the day, but 80 cool at night as to make fire comfortable; 20-30, dry and exceedingly dusty. July. — 1, cool; 1-6, warm; 7 and 8, very sultry; 13-15, very hot and oppressive; rest of the month hot, with considerable rain 28 and 29. August. — 1-10, warm; 11-17, hot, the 17th being the hottest day of the season — 95°; 18-31, moderate to hot, with a little rain. September. — 1-14, hot; river low; 15-24, moderate; 25-30, cool ; 25 and 27, frost ; 29, beautiful northern lights. October. — Average to 23d, when there was heavy frost and ice; 13, 14, river rose a foot, but toward the last of the month fell to a very low point. Very dry autumn. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOHNTT. 283 November. — 5, river rising a little, but directly fell again; only two feet of water on the bar; 21, first snow fell — very slight; 27, rain ; 29, heavy frost. December. — 1-12, moderate; 13-27, cold, on the 17th being 1° below zero in the open air;- 28-31, a little warmer. 1852, January. — 5, snow-storm all day; 10, snow again; 13, 2° below zero; 14, fine sleighing, snow six inches deep ; 19,13° below zero out of doors; peaches killed; 22, river closed; 29, first boat up since 19th ; 30, shore ice broke. On the Ist the river rose three feet. A very cold and inclement month. Ice became six to eight inches thick, and was beautifully clear. Skating was delightful. Snow lay on the ground fiiteen days, a length of time not known for many years, February. — 1, river rising very fast and full of ice; 4, spring day; 6, river clear of ice; 5, 10, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, rain; 15, hail; 28, snow also. March. — Middle of the month delightful and gardening going on; 18, cool and unpleasant; 22,. frost;- latter part of the month warm and showery. River rose and fell two or three times, but averaged a good stage. April. — 1-8, disagreeable; 9, heavy frost; 10-27, rather cool; 28-30, warm. Whole month rainy; 13, etc., river fell; 25, very high; 29, falling. . May.— 21, slight" frost. June. — 9, cool enough for fire; 10-17, very dry; 18, plenty of rain. July. — 7, the sultriest day" of the month. Last part of the month, crops suffering from drouth. August. — First half of the month, very dry, damaging crops; last half, plenty of rain. September.— 13, first frost, slight; 20, rained all day; 26, frost; last of the month river went down very low. October.— 13, heavy frost; river very low all the month; 23, dew so heavy that the trees dripped; 18, etc., beautiful Indian summer. November. — 1, frost;, 8, frost and ice; 18, first snow to cover the ground, but soon melted; 24, rainbow; 7, river rising fast and 19, falling fast; 23-27, "-horrible" weather. December. — Dreary; river high. Digitized by Microsoft® 284 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 1853. January. — ^Warm and wet; river high. February. — 1-4, warm; rest of the month moderate, some rain, sleet, etc. March. — 19, heavy frost; 29, frost; some rain, drizzling, etc., and on the whole a rather disagreeable month. April.— 13, trees budding; 15, heavy frost; 21, hot, 81°; 22-30, continues warm during the day but cool nights; 26, frost. River rising all the month. May. — 1-10, cool, fires needed every day ; 19, very cool ; 20- 31, dry and dusty. June. — Hot, especially the latter part of the month, an unprece- dented drouth prevailing; crops dried up, except that corn looked well and wheat was fine. River only three feet on the bar, the lowest ever known in June. July. — 2, the showery season commenced. August. — 28, slight frost. Fruits plentiful this season. September. — Nothing unusual in the weather. October. — 3, 4, frost- 11, heavy frost; 24, ice; 27, cold and driz- zly; 29, fine frost; river low; 18, lovely Indian summer. December. — 12, etc., beautiful weather; 18, first snow. 1854. January. — 23, 5° below zero. River full of ice most of the month and high. February. — Nothing remarkable. March. — 5-10, an unprecedented amount of rain fell ; 8, some trees showing buds; 11, thin ice; 17, peach-trees in bloom; 18, some ice; 26 and 28, a little ice again. River very high. April. — 1-3, ice; 18, heavy frost and ice; 21-27, warm. May. — River in fine order; weather usual. Juno. — River falling; 23-30, very hot and oppressive. July. — ^Hot; average heat at three p. m., 90J°. Dry and dusty. August. — 1-2, the two hottest days of the season, — 94° to 98; rest of the month hot, especially after the 24th. Average for the month at three, p. m., 91.1°. Still dry; everything burnt up; no grass. River as low as ever known to be. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 285 September. — 4, thermometer 99^°, hottest day ever observed here to this date. Hot and dry all the month. Corn crops short; hay, oats and wheat very fine ; tobacco fair. October. — 1, a good rain, the first of importance since June 2 the corn crops are short; 5, first Frost. River exceedingly low, but raised about three feet near the last of the month. November. — 12, first snow, ground covered; 26, river rising a little. December. — 5, ice on creeks strong enough "to bear one up; ice three inches thick on the creeks and ponds; 11, heaviest frost ever witnessed, — white on trees all day; 12, trees still white with frost, and constant fog; 18-31, cold, with some rain at the warmest periods; 8, about six feet water on the bars; 17, river down again; 26, seven feet on the bars. 1855. January. — 1, river in fair order, but fell toward middle ot the month. Lovely weather about the 16th, but the month generally was cold; 23, snow three inches deep; 30-31, ice four inches thick. February. — Cold; river full of ice. March. — 1, beautiful; 15, river high. First half of the month, over six inches of rain. April. — 14, trees budding finely; river in fine order; 25, ther- mometer reached 90°. June. — River in fine order; a fine crop ot wheat; 18, a hurri- cane. July. — River well up Garden vegetables abundant and good 16, high wind and rain, prostrating much of the corn. September. — 1-4, very wet weather. Most of the month hot. October. — 7, frost and ice; 12, frost; 14-15> lovely weather; 18, dusty; 25, heavy frost and ice; 29-31, warm and delightful. A wet month. November.— 15, 74°, warmest day of the month; 22-24, chilly. December. — 27, ice four inches thick. Some warm weather and lovely days this month. 1856. January.— 4, 3 ° below zero; ice seven and a half inches thick; 5 and 8,"?° below zero; 9, 16° below; 10, 12° below; 17, snow melted off; 26, wind, snow and hail; 31, snow four inches deep. River full of ice and no navigation this month. Digitized by Microsoft® 286 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. February. — J, snowy and sleighing; 3, 16° below zero out of doors; 4, 23° below zero; skating on the river; 5, 14° below; 9, thaw; 11, sloppy; 19, thawing, and snow nearly all gone; 20, more snow; 23, snow gone; 25-29, river full of ice, but navigation com- mences. Koads muddy. March. — 1, rain, sleet and snow; 2, snow all gone and river clear of ice; 4, roads drying out; blustering; 10, thermometer 12°; 1- 20, river, falling; 27, snowy, chilly day; 31, no signs of spring. Farmers complaining of want of rain, 'and tobacco too dry to strip. April. — 5, spring-like day. Dry month. River in good order. May. — River at good stage all the month; 30-31, slight frost. June. — Dry, river low, and latter part of the month hot. July.— 15, very hot— 94°; 16, 96°; 17, 99°; whole month dry and crops burning up. August. — Hot, and a moderate quantity of rain. September. — 1-17, hot days and nights; 19, river very low; 22, light frost; 24 and 25, heav}' frost, injuring the tobacco crop very much; 25, river lower than ever. October. — 1, heavy frost; 1-12, very dry and dusty; 13, rain; 17, Indian summer. November. — Dry. Woods on fire. River low. December.-— Nothing remarkable. 1857. January. — 8, ice four to six inches thick; 19, 12° below zero — coldest day known up to this time; 22, 8° below zero; 26, snow melting away; 28-30, skating on the river. February. — 3, ice broke; 8, river rising fast; 10, coldest day of this month: river high and fall of ice, in small pieces; 13, river clear of ice; and 18, falling fast. March. — ^9, coldest day of this month; 19, river becoming very low; no packet running; 30, dry weather; 31, shower. April. — Remarkable weather; 1-21, fires necessary; 2, 9, 10, 20, frost and ice; 17, snow; fruits and young tobacco generally killed. The last few days it warmed up some and vegetation started. May. — 7, frost; 16-20, cold enough to have fires all day; tobacco set out again the latter part of this month. July. — 3, fire necessary again, in the morning; 11, 17, 18, 19, .25, hot. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 287 August.— 2, 8, 11,16, 24, thermometer 90° to 95°. Eiver in good order the first part of the month, then went down the re- mainder of the month. September. — 13 and 14, hot and sultry; 24, light frost. River low, and first half of the month dry and dusty. October.— 11, 80°; 17, frost and ice; 20, heavy frost. Dry un- til the last week of the month. Noveniber. — Rather cool. December. — Very little winter weather. Some rain. 1858. January. — A very open winter. Corn crop turns out poorly, on account of the freeze in November. Weather has been so wet that many farmers are not half done gathering their corn. Tobacco crop very large. February. — A disagreeable month; 1, snow three inches deep; a chilling, disagreeable atmosphere ; 2, snow nearly all melted off; 10, thermometer 30° in the hall, — coldest day of the winter so far; 11, ice not over an inch thick; 21, one of the dreariest of days; 23, ice three inches thick; 27, snow almost gone; 28, sleet, snow, etc. March. — 6, ground covered with ice; 8, river in good order; 14, summer-like day; 16, everybody gardening; 29, frost. April. — 7, trees putting out leaves ; 26, chilly ; 27, frost and ice endangering fruit. May. — 11, very wet and disagreeably cold; 12, frost; 20, fire necessary. Farmers complained of too much rain the first part ot the month. River very high. June. — 27, thermometer 98°; river falling fast. A wet month, and oats for the first time in this region ruined by rust, and wheat badly damaged by it. August. — A hot month until the 26th; after this time chills were prevalent. Wheat small and shriveled. Not enough oats in the country for seed. Corn and tobacco look well. River low October. — 8, 9, frost and ice. November. — 1, raining. During the month were several drizzly dismal days. December. — Average for the season. Digitized by Microsoft® 2SS HISTOEY or DAVIKSS COUNTY. 1S59. January. — Extremes; coldest day, 22d, when tlie thermometer indicated 4° duriiio- the night; wannest day, 20th,— thennometer 65° at 3, p. M. February. — Temperature 12° to 72°; some rain; 23, river higher than since 1854. March. — 32° to 75°; 31, heavy frost. Average amount of rain and snow during tlie month. April. — 4 and o, frost and ice; 15, extraordinarily windy; 18 and 24, heavy frost. A very wet month. May. — Thermometer 53° to 89°; 10, roses in bloom. River fell to a low stage. June. — Last week of the month very hot. Good wheat harvest. Dust}' about the 9th. July.— 13, heat 101°; 14, 99^; 18, 100°; 19, 99°. Roads dusty about the 12th, but some rain during the month. River get- ting low. August. — Usual weather for the month. September. — 2, aurora borealis very brilliant; 21, fire neces- sary. October.— 6, 7, 10, 19, 28, 30 and 31, frost; 25 and 26, warm. November. — 3, beautiful Indian summer; 12, temperature fell 38° in twelve hours. December. — 7, 3°; 8, 6° below zero, and ice three inches thick; 9, ice four to five inches thick; 20, snow seven and a half inches deep ;| 23, 11° below zero, ice '^in river; 31, 5° by ther- mometer. 1860. January. — 1, zero; 2, 1° below, rest of the month moderate; 10, roads muddy; 18, river very high. February. — 1, zero; rest of month moderate. Some snowy, rainy or drizzly and disagreeable days. March. — Very early spring; 26, peaches mostly killed. April. — 25, frost, and a cold day. May. — 21, storm, especially up the river. June. — 26 and 30, hottest days of the month — 95°. July. — 10, heat 102^°, hottest day evernoticed since 1843, and perhaps much earlier; 22, 102°. Month averaged very hot and dry. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DATIESS COUNTY. 289 August.— 3 and 4, heat 100°. Hot month, and a little rain. Extremely dusty about the middle of the month. September.— 4 and 7, heat 95°. . Some rain during the month. October. — 12-15, frosty mornings. A month of good October weather. November.— 1, first snow; 9 and 20, chilly and dismal; 26, rained uninterruptedly all day, otherwise the month was average. December.— 30, 31, coldest days of the month— 12° and 22°. A little snow and rain occasionally during the month. 1861. January. — 1, clear, calm and lovely. February. — ^A month of moderate temperature and considerable rain ; several days were lovely. March. — 24, peach-trees blooming. April.— 20, frost. May. — Good month for crops. Hail on the night of the 12th. June. — Good month for crops. July. — Warm as usual. August. — Hot and sultry. September. — "Warm. October. — 23, frost; 28, first biting frost. November. — 12, thermometer reached 80°; 29, snow covered the ground. 1862. January. — A steady, cool month, without much freezing, but with considerable fog, mist and drizzling. On the 13th there were two inches of snow. February. — Open. Winter passed, and no ice put up. March. — 1, disagreeable; 2, rainy; 6, snow an inch and a half deep; 7, snow nearly gone; 11, fine day and roads drying up fast; 17, heavy frost. River high. Spring late. April. — 6, heavy frost. A wet, backward spring. May. — Dry and dusty until about the 20th. June. — 12, roads dusty; 28, farmers complaining that it is too wet. July. — Good weather for the crops. August. — Becoming dry, and the river low. September. — Pleasant weather, but dry and the river low. Eoads exceedingly dusty. 19 Digitized by Microsoft® 290 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. October. — A little rain; 12, light frost; 20-23, heavy frosts; 21, Indian summer; 25, snowed all afternoon, over two inches deep. November. — A rather cool and cloudy month; 14, river has risen about two feet. December. — Some rain and disagreeable weather; 31, beautiful day. 1863. January. — 15, snow twelve inches deep; 16, thirteen inches fall, deepest ever known here; eighteen inches deep in some parts of the county; 18-21, snow mostly melted away; 17, river rising rapidly. February. — 4, ice two to two and a half inches thick. March. — 1-13, wet and cool; 14^23^ nice spring weather; 26, ice; 29, cold day; 13, river nearly over Indiana; 31, rain, wind, sleet, snow and sunshine. April. — 1-3, cold and blustering; 4, frost; rest of the month, fine for gardening. May. — Dry and warm; rains on the 29th and 30th. June. — 16, river only three and a half feet on the bars. July. — Characteristic. August. — 30, frost, ruining a great deal of the tobacco. September. — 19-20, frost, but tobacco not injured much; 29, 30, river very low. October. — 6, heavy frost, 6-13, dismal; 24-26, frosts; 29, river rising. Decemoer. — 6-13, dismal; 16, severe thunder, lightning hail and an earthquake; 25, river in good order; 31, stormy night. 1864. January. — 1, 6° below zero; 2, 1° below; 4, much ice in the river; 5, ice six inches thick in the ponds; 9, 6° below zero again; 28, boats running, the first since the 4th . A cold month. February. — Cold and disagreeable,. March. — 1, snow about one and a half inches deep; rest of the month nothing noteworthy. April. — 19 and 20, frost and ice. May. — 3 and 12, frost. June. — Hot; dry the latter part of the month; crops suffering; tobacco crop cut down apparently one half. Cut-worms bad. July. — 9, river quite low; a dry month. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOITNTT. 291 August. — Eain, increasing during the month. Good navigation by the last week. September. — 19, first frost, light. October. — 9, frost and ice. December. — 9, snow, two or three inches deep; 12, ice three inches thick; 18, heavy fog all day; packets laid up at Owensboro; 30, snow three inches deep. 1865. January. — Some snow. A steady, cool, but not very cold month; 26-31, river too full of ice for boats to run. February. — Weather not remarkable. March. — Eiver very high,— over into Indiana. A wet and back- ward spring; 30, peach and plum trees in bloom. April. — 11, a great deal of rain; farmers worried; 14, frost; 20- 30, river falling. May. — 12, heavy frost and river very high; 14, over into In- diana; 19, falling. June. — 1-3, dry and dusty; showers during the rest of the month. July. — 22, river rising fast; 25, crops injured by hard rains. August. — 30, river only three feet on the bars. September. — 15, oppressively warm weather; 19, chilly. October. — Nothing remarkable. November. — 3, first biting frost, but not severe; 5, first ice. December. — 15, coldest day of the month, 9° in hall, and ice over two and a half inches thick; last week, river high and rising. TBMPEEATUEE. The annual mean of temperature for May, June, July, August and September together, as observed at Louisville 1841 to 1871, was 56°. The highest temperature in Owensboro in 1881, was 103f °, and the lowest, 15° below zero, during the following winter. In the early settlement of the valley of the Ohio the weather in April and May was usually mild and fine, so that corn-planting was generally finished during the first week of April. Of later years the temperature of these months has changed, so that severe frosts in May are not uncommon. May 13 to 18, 1834, there were hard frosts every morning. May 5, 1803, a snow fell in Kentucky about four inches deep, followed by hard frosts for two or three nights; the fruits were all killed. Digitized by Microsoft® 392 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. OHIO FLOODS. The first " flood " in the Ohio Eiver of which we have an authen- tic account since the valley was settled by the whites, was in March, 1774, when it rose about sixty feet above low-water mark. The second was in the winter of 1789-'90, when the settlement at Columbia, Ohio, was overflown to such a height that only one house remained out of water. The third flood was in 1808. The fourth occurred in February, 1832, and was the most disastrous ever wit- nessed by white men. From the seventh to the nineteenth of February the water continued to rise until, at Covington, it reached the height of sixty-three feet above low- water mark. Much damage was done to property. The fifth great freshet in the Ohio Kiver occurred in December, 1847, and at Louisville it reached a point only nine inches below that of 1832, and at Maysville only six inches below. A great deal of property was washed away, thou- sands of hogs were drowned in their pens, and a number of persDns lost their lives. THE FLOOD OF 1883. The following account we quote from the Saturday Post: " The present generation has the honor to see the mighty Ollio at the height of its majesty. Even the oldest inhabitant remem- bers not the time when the waters came down from the head of La Belle Riviere in such mighty volume as during the past week. One by one the records of all previous floods have been marked out by the great rise of 1883, and in succession the notches reached by the flood-waves of 1867, 1853, 1847, 1832 and 1808 have receded from view. This is the record of the waters above and may be taken as a safe criterion of the extent of the flood at this point. Though it might seem an easy undertaking, yet it is a matter of difiiculty to ascertain the exact figures concerning the previous high-water marks at Owensboro. In recent years the entire river front has been changed. Even in the memory of the present gen- eration the time was when all tjf Front street, now washed in places to a width of only a few feet, was a broad campus, fringed with trees. Where the levee now is was once circus grounds, affording room to pitch the largest canvas. The levee front has been changed from time to time, and thus old marks wiped away, or their reli- ability destroyed. After diligent inquiry among many of Owens- boro's oldest residents, our reporter feels authorized in the statement that the recent stage of the Ohio at this point was the Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 293 highest within the memory of any living being, save, perhaps, that of one, who thinks it was exceeded by the flood of 1808. Of the latter statement, though, there are no present marks to verify its authenticity. The flood of '32, just fifty-one years ago, has been heretofore quoted as the heaviest within the memory of any living person, but from the evidence of those who should know here, and the reports from Kockport, where the marks are recorded on the blufi's, there is reason to pass over the horns to 1883. "All during the week the river banks have been lined with spec- tators, viewing the mighty expanse of seething waters into which the Ohio had merged itself. In fact, river topics have been the universal theme of conversation. The moisture that permeated the seeping banks seemed to communicate itself to everybody and everything. It checked business, commerce and traffic. Men, women, and children seemed drawn by an irresistible curiosity toward the river, and when they returned to the streets, would retrace their steps and again take their stand among the idle spec- tators. Many a child was led down to the water's edge by its nurse, so that in after years it can point back through memory's haze to the great flood of '83. " Deep as was the tale of woe which the great roll of waters told, yet the crowds that assembled on the banks were not without their ludicrous incidents. If there is anything that can move a man to the borders of the miraculous it is a flood. It was edifying to hear the words of wisdom which flowed from the moutlis of the multitudes, on matters heretofore within the peculiar province ot history. Men whose fathers' fathers were not here in 1808, quoted the family records to prove the exact height of the flood in that mem- orable year. The water-marks of 18i7 were freely disputed by scores of eye-witnesses who were not then born. 1852 and its great rise were quickly disposed of and laid away labeled " settled." The rise of '67 was familiar to everybody who got started in the debate at all; and doubtless a score of private marks were exhibited by persons who made them themselves, at the moment the tide reached its highest flood that year. Everybody will make his pri- vate bench-mark, noting the lieight of the present flood, and doubt- less a stranger who visits the levee when the waters subside will have a good reason to conclude from the countless hieroglyphs that it was constructed from the remnants of an Egyptian obelisk." It is a coincidence worthy of mention that the days on which the river reached its highest in 1832 and 1883 were Feb. 17 in both years. Digitized by Microsoft® 294 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS OOmTTT. Last week in February, 1882, the Ohio about as high ae in 1867. Seven persons drowned at Green River Island. Nov. 8, 1832, snow fell eight or nine inches, and the Ohio River was closed by Dec. 1. Nov. 16, 1833, snow fell to the depth of six inches, and the weather was incessantly cold for several weeks. Nov. 15, 1836, snow was fifteen inches deep, and lasted until the middle of January. MISOELLANBOUS. In "February, 1886, snow measured eighteen inches deep. In Novebfiber, 1835, a snow seventeen inches deep accumulated, which did not altogether melt away until about the first of April. In the early part of 1834 there was a hurricane near Whitesville Hiat did considerable damage. In 1844 a hurricane swept from llie vicinity of Rockport down through the northeast corner of this eoanty. But no lives were lost in either of the foregoing. The first week of January, 1879, was the coldest it had been for t#enty-two years. On the 3d it was 10° below zero. It was near aero for several days. The first week of September, that year, was characterized by very heavy rains. Crops throughout the county Buffered immense damage, — probably cut down to about one half. The heaviest rainfall ever known in Northern Kentucky, in so short a time, occurred Dec. 9 and 10, 1847. The creeks and smaller streams rose so rapidly as, in some cases, to drive people in their night-clothes to the second story of their liouses for safety. The annual average of rainfall in Kentucky from 1840 to 1870, inclusive, was 60.3 inches. The greatest fall in any one year was in 1865, being 60.69 inches, and the least was in 1856, which was 80 inches. The greatest amount of water falling inside of four con- secutive hours occurred May 8, 1843, reaching, 4.37 inches in three and a half hours. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTEE XI\r. MISCELLANEOUS. OOUKT-HOtrSB. The lirst court was held in a log building, — probably a dwelling. The first regular court-house was a brick structure, erected about 1819-'20. By the year 1855 the county had so grown that a new building was needed; and accordingly a contract was let for erect- ing a new court-house, the work to be finished by Oct. 1, 1857; but it was not completed until 1858 or '9. It was partly occupied, however, in the winter preceding. Its size was 60 x 80 feet, and two stories high above the basement. This building was burned Jan. 6, 1865,;as described in Chapter YI., the "Civil War." Present Court-Rouse. — This was built 1866-'8, on the old foun- dation, and of the same dimensions as the previous structure, only somewhat higher and differently ornamented. The original con- tract, with B. Tribble and W. McLoyd, was for $55,000; but the building, with all the finishings and heavy furniture, including bell and clock, actually did cost about $63,000. The new build- ing was occupied July 6, 1868. In October and November fol- lowing the clock was built, by a man from Boston, Mass., and the bell, weighing 1,100 pounds, was put up Nov. 27, the same fall. The iron fence around the public square was completed June 26, 1869, and the court-house, in all its furnishings and surroundings, was finished in the fall of 1869. JAIL. The first jail was a log building, spiked and finished in the usual way, erected about 1819-'20. Its location was on the corner of the public square near the present jail. The second jail was built of brick, by Mr. Feldpausch, con- tractor, and was located within twenty feet of the south line of the present court-house. The tliird and present jail biUlding was commenced early in IRfll. The contract was let the previous year; in 1861 the first story was put up, and the next year the second story was built, (293) Digitized by Microsoft® 296 raSTOET OF daviess cootty. and the whole structure finished. The jailer's house was built during the war. PUBLIC SQUAEE. This was laid out in the original survey of the town, and -was deeded by Robert Triplett to the county for court-house pupppses only. In the original deed is also the condition that the truSsees of the town have a certain number of feet on the northeast corner of the square for a market-house. Since that time there have been three market-houses there, but they were all more or less eye- sores, and the last one was removed years ago. Forty i'eet have been cut off the south side for market grounds, and ier partially devoted to that purpose now, the city scales being placed there' since 1867. For a long time it was debated whether to build the city hall upon this ground. POOE-HOUSE. About 1845 Geo. W. Triplett was appointed by the County Court to purchase a piece of land for a poor farm. Accordingly h& bought ITO acres about five miles southeast of Owensboro, on the Miller's Mill Road. He employed John Locke as the first man to take charge of the place. There was a two-story hewed- log house and a cabin or two on the premises. All went down during the war. In 1868 a frame house, with four rooms and a kitchen, for the family, and two other frame houses, with two rooms each, were built for paupers. One of these is situate on the southwest, and one on the southeast, of the main building, Stables, barns and other improvements were also made. This is about the extent of the improvements there at present. The annual average ot paupers is about eight to ten. Colored paupers are kept by private individuals. All paupers are let on special contracts, rates being fixed for each individual case. LOST EBOOKDS. The volumes in the county clerk's office, containing copies of wills prior to 1867, were lost or destroyed; and the originals of many were afterward brought forward and recorded. Since that date the record is complete. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 297 THE FIRST WILL. " In the name of God, amen! " This 26th day of August, one thousand eight bimdred and fifteen, I, John McFarland, of the County of Daviess,, ati^. State of Kentucky, being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, do make, constitute, ordain and appoint this my last will and testament, in the following manner and form ; and — " First, I order that all my just debts shall be punctually paid by my executors hereafter named. " Item, I order and devise that my well-beloved wife, Frances McFarland,. shall have my negro man Sam, now in possession of Abner Lea, and my negro girl by the name of Tilly, one feather- bed and furniture, one horse and saddle, and my riding-chair, and "two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, to her and her heirs forever; and I further order that my negro woman Tabb, and my negro boy Johnston be the property of my said wife during ber life, and at her death be equally divided amongst her children. " Item, I order aud devise that my negroes, Toby, Ldcy and child, now in possession of Lewis Odom, shall remain in his poB- session until his daughter, Rachel Odom, is eighteen years old; and then I order aud devise that my said negro "Toby shall be equally divided between Eldred Odom, Patsey Odom an^ Dem(^ Odom, to them and their^heirs forever. " Item, I order and devise, when my granddaughter, Raehel Odom, comes to be eighteen years old, she shall then haye my ne- gro woman Lucy and child (now in possession of Lewis Odom) to her and her heirs forever. " Item, I order and devise that my well-beloved daughter, Mar- garet Odom, have twenty dollars of my estate to her and her hdica forever. " Item, I order and devise that the County Court of DsviesB shall appoint five disinterested persons, any three of them, lo act, to divide all the residue of my negroes into five equal shares, giv- ing one share to each of my five children, to wit: William McFar- land, Leah Glenn, Rachel McFarland, James McFarland and John S. McFarland, putting the negroes that are now in possession of my son William McFarland and son-in-law William Glenn, upon lots by themselves, and add or diminish from the rest to make them equal; and it is my will that my son William and William Glenn have their choice to keep the lot that has the negroes on it that is Digitized by Microsoft® lOT HIBTOET OF DAVIESS COHNTT. now in their possession; and if they refuse to take it they shall draw in some eqnitable way with my other three children as above named. "And I further order and devise that all the residue of my eetnte that I have not already given away, both real and personal, be equally divided between my sons and daughters as hereinafter aamed — William McFarland, James McFarland, John S. McFar- land, Leah Glenn and Rachel McFarland, to them and their heirs- forever. "And lastly, I constitute, order and appoint my well-beloved son,. William McFarland, and my well-beloved son-in-law, William 01enn, executors to this my last will and testament, and I do hereby n»vc^e and disannul all other wills by me made, ratifying and (KHifirming this only to be my last will and testament. " In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and aflBx my seal ;ihe day and year first above written. "JoHiT MoFabland. [seal.] "In presence of Joseph D. MoFaelaitd, T. D. Obsbokn." There is among the archives of the Circuit Court Clerk's office of this county a patent for a grant of 6,000 acres of land, made by and bearing the signature of Patrick Henry, while Governor of Virginia. This patent bears date of I'^S. The writing is legible and the paper on which it is written is in a remarkable state of preservation. MILITABT. Bevohaionary Wa/r. — According to CoUins's History of Ken- tucky, the following Eevolutionary soldiers were living in Daviess County in 1840, with the ages given: Benjamin Field, aged eighty- four; Charles Hansford, eighty; James Jones, seventy-nine, and Benjamin Taylor, eighty-four. A further notice is given of Mr. Field in the history of Murray Precinct, in this volume. Mr. Hansford was the father of William Hansford, now of Utica, this county. Mr. Jones used to reside a short distance above Owens- boro. War of 1812. — Of the soldiers of this war the following have been residents of Daviess County: Jo Daveiss, William Griffith (f), Alvin Clark, Colonel Newton, Banister Wall, Abram Balee and many others. Clark was wounded in the battle of New Or- Digitized by Microsoft® HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS OO0NTT. 299 leans. Por a eketch of Daveiss see Chapter V. Balee died in 1881. We clip the following from an Owensboro paper of January, 1883: Ooe day this week "a messenger might have been seen leaving the grocery of Mr. R. B. Nunn, bearing a huge basket- ful of the choicest Wares from that well-known establishment. The basket and its acceptable contentsr were the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Nunn to Mr. Thomas I. Carrico, the only survivor in this section of the war of 1812, and it was sent to him on the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, (1816), at which Mr. Carrico and Mr. Nunn's father were present. Mr. Nick Lancaster added f^ the gift a decanter of fine old whisky, and it is needless to say tlU^t the recipient was truly happy at such kindly remembrance." Mewiecm Wa/r. — Geo. W. Triplett raised a company of 102 men for tii!8 war, but unwittingly at a time when the State of Kentucky WJ* itot ready to receive and equip them. Bi September, 1847, under the last call, a special order was i^ed to convene the militia of the county, and on the 15th they^ were accordingly mustered and marched into the court-house to listen to addresses and to volunteer. Decius McCreery and Will- lam Bristow were particularly active in raising a company, which, on immediately organizing, elected the former their Captain and the latter their First Lieutenant. Wm. P. D. Bush was elected "Ensign," or Second Lieutenant; I. P. Washburne, Third Lieuten- ant, and H. Senour, Orderly Sergeant. This company numbered about 100, and part of them were from Ohio and Hancock counties. Being accepted by Governor Owsley, they left Owensboro on the steamer Meteor Oct. 2; went to the field of carnage and did valiant service. They were with General S6ott on his march to Vera Cruz. Some of Daviess County's volunteers were probably under the command of General Joseph Lane, Major John C. Breckenridge and Lieutenant-Colonel Ward. These old Mexican war veterans used to meet in Owensboro annually for re-unions. Among them was Captain E. C. Berry, from Washington County, who died here. Of the fore-mentioned, Mr. Bush is the only one living, who is now a lawyer at Frank- fort. Captain W. J. Taylor, now living on the forks of Panther Creek, is a Mexican veteran, but was not a member of the above company. C. O. Clements, of Knottsville, was another soldier in hat war. Digitized by Microsoft® 300 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COtJNTT. Captain Decins McCreery was a brother of ex-Senator T. 0. Mc- Creery. He arrived home here July 26, 1848, bat died in Arkansas in 1865. Two of his sons are now living in that State, and two in Texas. State Guards, 1859. — A compauy of State Guards was organized in Owensboro in 1859, with J. H. McHenry, Captain. They met for drill, obtained some arms and uniforn^ and were on the point of obtaining more when the war came on and broke up the organ- ization. Captain McHenry was selected by Governor Morehead, April ,9, 1858, by lot, along with nine other Captains and their companies for service in Utah. He raised and organized a company, but the threatened trouble in Utah «nded before he was called into service. CAPITAL PUNISHMBITT. Collins's History of Kentucky says : " But two cases of hanging have occurred in the history of the [Daviess] county, a negro man for rape, in 1838, and Curtis Richardson, Nov. 1, 1854, for murder." The latter had murdered a man near Knottsville, and was executed on a hill in the southeastern part of Owensboro, since known as " Hangman's Hill." He had been famous for killing men, ami seemed to know from the start that he would continue in his career of crime until he should meet with a violent death either at the hands of the law or otherwise. In earlier life he witnessed the ex- ecution of some criminals up the river, and remarked on the occa- sion that he would be hung himself some day. He undoubtedly inherited gross and violent passions, and his attorneys in his last trial endeavored to mitigate his punishment by proving that he had a decided mania for homicide. He actually seemed to have some ambition to show himself off on the scaffold before a large assembly. Thomas Landruin was the Sheriff who executed the sentence. The negro above referred to was a slave belonging to Mr. Shauntee. The scaffold from wliich he was hung was erected near where St. Stephen's (Catholic) Church now stands. He was executed by E. C. Jett, Sheriff. Most cases of murder, homicide, and manslaughter occurring in this county since 1843 are given for convenience sake, toward the conclusion of the chapter on Owensboro, in a journal mainly com- piled from J. Thomas's diary. A few prominent criminal cases are Teferred to in the biography of Judge James Stuart, in Chapter IX . Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOET OF DAVIESS OOTINTT. 301 T\^o or three remarkable cases we relate here, as we have no other appropriate place for them, namely, the MUEDBR OF BOBEET m'fAELAND. About thirty years ago this man was murdered in his bed, one night, for his money. He was a farmer, about ten miles south of Owensboro, and South of Panther Creek. He had just been deliv- er.'ng his tobacco, and was supposed to have considerable money about him. It was in the summer, and he was sleeping with the door of his room slightly ajar. The murderer entered the room with an ax, and struck him about the eyes with the poll of that heavy implement. His wife was awakened by some one firing a weapon in the room. No clae was ever obtained to the tnnrderers. Many ugly stories have been told concerning Mr. McFarland's family affairs, with a view of elucidating the mystery; but as nothing has ever been proved in court, we do not rehearse them here. MUBDEB OF WILLIS FIELDS. About 1862 or '3, this man, who was a son-in-law of the preced- ing, started for Owensboro one day when there was a little snow on the ground; but it appears that he never got more thaaa mile and a half on his way; for in a neck of timber about that distance from home hisbuggy was afterward found standing in the road, and him- self lying dead near by, with three or four stabs about iiis body, each BO severe and direct as alone to be fatal. This deed has been supposed to be perpetrated by " Tony," one of his negroes, who had been ordered to shell corn in the crib that day. It is supposed that as soon as Mr. Fields commenced his journey, Toney left his crib and ran until he overtook his master, and after murdering him, returned hastily to his work at the crib, to avoid saspicion. Tony was himself killed sometime afterward. LOD DUKE. The following event occurred in Owensboro, Aug. 15, 1872. J. M. Carlin was the only witness to the affair, and testified before the examining court that he was in the clothing store of Lod Duke, the accused, and sitting ipon the counter, Lod being behind the counter in conversation with him. Josh Duke came in and stated that he wanted to settle u ) their business that week, and wanted Digitized by Microsoft® 302 HISTORY OF DAVIKSS COUNTY. the money due him. Lod told him to go on, they would fix that some other time. Joshua threatened if money due him was not paid, he would box up the goods in the store; Lod said he reckoned not. Joshua replied in an angry tone, that he would show hi n, and ran into a hack room. Lod then began to take his pistol out of his pocket. Carlin caught his hand and he returned his pistol to his pocket. Joshua came in with pistol in hand; Carlin caaght each by the arm, when Lod told Josh Duke to go on, that he wished no diflSculty. Joshua thereupon jerked loose from Carlin and shot around at Lod. The latter then returned the fire, shoot- ing once or twice. The examining court, Judge Triplett presiding, after hearing the evidence, acquitted the accused on the ground ot self defense. The parties were respectably connected, and had been in business together in Owensboro for several years; and, but for the absurd practice of carrying concealed weapons, the unfor- tunate aflfair would probably not have happened. Joshua Duke lingered in great agony until the following Monday, when he breathed his last. EDUCATION. The growth of what may be termed the " Public School Sys- tem " of this State has been very gradual. At first none but pri- vate schools were sustained, which, of course, were very poor, or ■wanting altogether in the poorer or thinly populated districts. In the course of time a small State fund began to grow, from the pro ceeds of certain lands. To Daviess County there was originally (Feb. 10, 1798,) donated about 6,000 acres ofy:a.6antiandfOT-«J3hool purposes. These lands, in the nature afrhings, yielded but _ small revenue until the increase of population made them valuable. Even now most public schools have t(/ be sustained principally by special tax, and the people are generally very loth to vote a levy upon themselves for school purposes. Even as late as 1882 the pro- posed tax of two cents upon each $100 worth of property was voted down by 2,007 against 707. June 23, 1836, Congress appropriated $1,433,757 to Kentucky for educational purposes, but the Legislature afterward reduced this amount to $850,000, devoting the rest to other objects. The State felt free to do this, because she had not promised to devote the whole grant to education. This is the origin and principal resource of the permanently invested school fund, from the interest of which, for many years, the public sciool revenues of Kentucky have been derived. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 303 In 1838 the first law was enacted for the establishment of a gen- ■eral system of common schools in this State; but for ten years the system languished and struggled with feeble life and doubtful success, under the ruthless hands of unsympathizing and crude legislation. Dp to 1843 there had been in this State only $2,604 for the ben- efit of common schools, while there was $116,375 of interest due and unpaid. The first successful movement inaugurated for the grading of any public school in this county was made in 18 TO in Owensboro. This year there were eighty school districts in the county of Daviess, and sixty-three schools were taught during the year. The amount disbursed for their maintenance was $4,846.60. In 1882- '3 there are ninety-three districts for white children and fifteen for colored. The amount of money paid during the year for their maintenance is $11,000. The number of children in attendance, including Owensboro, is 7, 837. Amount of money paid for col- ored schools is $1,800, from the State fund. TEMPEBAUCE. Besides the numerous temperance orders noticed elsewhere in this volume and the Washingtonian movement, and a score of other general temperance revivals, enterprises and schemes com- mon to every civilized community, Owensboro and vicinity, about six months after the Murphy movement started in the coun- try, was pretty thoroughly taken with the blue ribbon pledge, as introduced by Judge James Stuart. It seems that he was converted to the cause in a neighboring county, and immediately upon his return to Owensboro he announced that there would be a mass meeting at the court-house on a certain evening, when addresses would be delivered, and plans proposed concerning temperance. The evening came, and the court-room was crowded. The Judge then had the door locked, in order to secure perfect quietness. He delivered an eloquent appeal, and circulated the Murphy pledge, which required total abstinence from all alcoholic, vinous and malt liquors. Seventy-two signed the pledge that night, and in a few days the signers reached 400 in number. On the second night John Weir addressed the people, and 200 more went forward. Subsequent meetings were addressed by W. T. Ellis, Baker Boyd, and John P. Barrett, of Hartford. Music was given by the " Mur- phy choir." Digitized by Microsoft® 304 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Everything passed off smoothly for about ten days, when the Judge had to leave. The people, especially the youth, were en- thusiastic, and worked with a determined will and direct aim. After the first, the meetings were held in Hall's Dramatic Hall. The numbers joining the movement soon swelled to 1,200 or 1,400._ The blue ribbon was their badge. Soon after Mr. Stuart left the city, certain officious parties ahroad desiring to visit the place, and have a " finger in the pie, " wrote to him for an invitation; but he, fearing the consequences, discouraged their coming. They came, nevertheless, and, true enough, dissensions soon began to arise. After considerable effort, Mr. Stuart succeeded in getting them away. A purse of $5,000 or $6,000 was made up by subscription to buy property for reading-rooms, etc. ; but before the necessary plans could be matured, Mr. Stuart had to leave on official duty and the cause went down, amid the contests ©f jealous friends. In the spring, about four months afterward, a municipal election came on, the inevitable license question came up, and the consequent heated controversy fixed permanent walls between friend and friend. The necessary meetings were more and more thinly at- tended, many went back to their old drinking habits, and the Mur- pliy or "blue'ribbon" movement finally, like the streaks of mor|i- ing cloud, faded away into the dim azure of the past. The "Woman's Movement, " which inundated so many places dn the Northern States, never gained a foothold in Owensboro, or in the county anywhere. A proposition to inaugurate it here was dif- fidently, made by one or two ladies, but some ugly articles appeared in the city papers, threatening violence and resulting in a rancoroua discussion, and the " motion was withdrawn. " It will not be inferred from the foregoing failures that the blue ribbon movement, or any other temperance movement, has been entirely unproductive of good. The most of them have done a great deal of good — indeed, sufficient to justify the outlay of money and consumption of time attending them. For farther history of temperance societies and movements, see chapters on "Owensboro" and the respective precincts. CELEBRATIONS. The Fourth of July, 1871, was celebrated in Owensboro in a magnificent manner. The day will long be noted aa one most agreeable in its annals. There was a grand display of the various Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY 305 industries of the community, in a procession composed of large, wheeled platforms, elaborately ornamented and illustrated by the industry they were designed to represent. The exhibition was con- tained upon one six-horse wagon, ten four-horse wagons, eighteen two-horse wagons, and twelve one-horse wagons. Arriving at the Fair Grounds, the assemblage listened to a fine reading of the Decla- ration of Independence by W. T. Ellis, Esq., and an instructive and eloquent address by James Stuart, the orator of the day. Feasting and fun followed. Captain G. L. Dear was the Marshal of the day; and for the success of the occasion credit is chiefly due James Bowlds, C. C. Gatlett, C. Zuckriegel, C. Green, S. Kuntz and J. Badger. July 4, 1872. — "The Glorious" this year was ushered in with no explosions of fire-arms or display of flags. Nothing disturbed the serenity of nature until the reverberating noise of the steam-whistle of the steamer Mary Ament was heard, about eight o'clock. The citizens left their shops and houses and made their way to the whart to witness the arrival of the Odd Fellows' delegations that were ex- pected to arrive. A hundred or more disembarked, accompanied by a fine band of music, and made their way to their appointed quarters. Shortly after ten o'clock the Odd Fellows' procession was formed and moved through the streets in the following order: Brothers Lodge, of Owensboro; Hawesville (Ky.) Lodge; Eock- port (Ind.) Lodge; Grand View (Ind.) Lodge; Harigari Lodge, of Owensboro, and the Mechanics' Association. The procession was preceded by the Rockport brass band. After reachingthe Fair Grounds, the theater of the day's ceremonies, the assemblage was entertained by a well-conceived and delivered address, by Professor Chase, of Louisville. Not less than 4,500 persons were present. Eating, dancing and various amusements were the order of the day. The receipts amounted to several hundred dollars. The colored people celebrated the day by gathering at Paradise Garden, where they were addressed by Thomas E. Curtcher and Thomas Botts, two talented young lawyers. July 4, 1874, was appropriately celebrated in this county by a Masonic barbecue at the Fair Grounds. The Monitor observes that " it was decidedly the grandest success in that line that has ever taken place here, and everytliing possible was done to render the day a joyful one." There was of course a grand procession of Grangers, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Harigaris, Knights Templar and Freemasons. At the grounds addresses were delivered 20 Digitized by Microsoft® 306 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. by Hons. C. G, Winterstnith and John Young Brown. The gross anaoiint realized from the barbecue was $1,400, which was remark- able considering the stringency of the times. Thomas S. Fettit was Grand Marshal of the day. Tde Liederkrantz Society had a pleasant time at Floral Fark. SOUTHEKN BELIEF. The fall of 1866 found the people in many portions of the South- ern States in a destitute condition on account of the ravages of war and a desolating drouth. A committee was appointed for Daviess County, consisting of Thomas H. Fointer, Robert G. Moorman, J. C. Maple, W. B. Pegram and T. 0. McCreery, who appointed snb- committies throughout the county, to collect and forward contribu- tions of corn, meat, clothing and money. On other occasions, also, Owensboro has exhibited a marked degree of liberality. See chapter on "Owensboro." LAND LEAGUE. I 'May 7, 1881, a large mass-meeting was held at the court-house to consider .tlie propriety of organizing a branch of the Irish Land League. J. D. Shortell was made Chairman, and George F.' Haynes, Secretary. A series of enthusiastic resolutions were adopted, and addresses were made by R. W. Slack and Rev. F. M. J. Rock, after which forty-two members placed their names on the roll, and $85 were subscribed to the funds of the League. J. D. Shortell was elected Fresident; Rev. Mr. Rock, Vice-Fresident; Edwin F. Millett, Secretary, and R. W. Slack, Treasurer. Over $100 was collected and duly forwarded to headquarters. AEOH.E0L0GY. This term relates to the remains of art left us by aboriginal nations; as, mounds, skeletons, arrow-heads, skinning-hatchets, stme-axes, pottery, ornaments, etc., most of which in this country Were made by the Indians, and some possibly by other and more c vilized nations which preceded them. Many ethnologists believe that the tribes of Indians which the whites are now driving out of this country, at some stage of their former national existence, were fully adequate to the building of all the mounds and the manufacture of all the implements of the chase and of warfare which we now find scattered all over the West. Indeed, it is not Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS CDCNTV. 3n7 really certain tliat any different race of people ever existed in this country. However tliis may be, we find within the limits of Daviess County many of these ancient remains of art, of wliicli a number of collections have been made. W. L. Burtoii's Collection. — W. L. Barton, attorney at law, Owensboro, has a very line collection of Indian relics and geologi- cal specimens. Of stone axes he has one made of hard sandstone, and weighing about iive pounds; and a long-polled specimen, of blue limestone, of about four pounds' weight. Of flint hoes, spades or other digging implement of some kind, there are sev- eral good specimens in this collection; also, pestles and mortars, or "grist-mills," by which the aborigines of this land ground up their corn, acorns, paints and medicines. These consist simply of a biscuit- shaped piece of hard stone of any kind, hollowed out a little on one side, and of another piece of very hard stone, some- what oblong in form , used as the pestle or pounder. The smaller ones, weighing but a few ounces each, are supposed to have been used for grinding paints, and the larger ones for paints and various articles of food. One specimen of pestle is about the size and shape of a small rolling-pin, and may have been a pestle or a war-club, or both. Its weight is about five pounds, and it was found in McLean County. Some pestles were bell shaped. Of arrowheads Mr. Burton has a large quantity of fine ones, most of which have been picked up within the bounds of Daviess County. They are usually of blueish-gray flint, and vary in size and shape materially. He also has a modern Indian arrow, mounted, or set in the rod. It is small, but very neat. Of Indian pipes there are some of the oddest specimens in this cabinet. A verbal description of them would be unsatisfactory. One is made of a white sand or limestone, and a huge one, of the same material, is painted a brownish-red color, in exact imitation of the color of the pipe-stone clay of Minnesota. This specimen weighs nearly four pounds, and was found in Indiana, in a mound near the "Wabash. One pipe, made of white clay and of a fancy shape, is supposed to be a peace pipe. Of ancient American pottery Mr. Burton has several magnificent specimens. Two are almost globular, with a rim around the mouth at the top, and projections on the bottom to keep them in a standing position. One of these would hold about a pint and a half, and the other a quart. One has two ears, and the other four, as if to be held by a bail. There are two larger vessels, in shape Digitized by Microsoft® 308 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. somewhat between a jug and an urn, from Arkansas; also, handles to household vessels, of fancy shapes.. One has an image of a squirrel's head attached. In the mounds the pots are always found enclosed by the arm of the skeleton of the mound-builder, and the pipes are found near the mouth. In this collection there are also a few Indian skulls, teeth, etc., from the mounds, in which the archaeologists say they were buried over 400 years ago. As almost every archseologist has also a few geological speci- mens, we will mention that Mr. Burton has a few very fine pieces; as, of Lepidodendron and leaf marks, from Tell City, Ind. ; fossil shells, from the Devonian formation; mushroom coral; crinoidal stems; lithographic stone, from Edmonson County, Ky.; a petrified gate-pin, from Breckenridge County, near the -Falls of Rough Creek, and many smaller curiosities. Other parties throughout the county have a greater or less num- ber of Indian relics; as, pestles and mortars, grist-mills, pieces of pottery, etc. A specimen grist-mill consists simply of two stones: one weighing six pounds, hollovred out a little on one side, with a pestle weighing one and one-fourth pounds. They are made apparently of bowlder granite. Mounda, etc. — There are some Indian mounds in Daviess County, especially along the Ohio River from Yelvington down to the vicinity of Bon Harbor. At Iceland Landing are a number of mounds containing specimens of aboriginal handwork, such as knives, axes, hammers, polishers, small mortars and pestles, pipes, etc. Also, the bones of a race of men are sometimes found, which must have averaged eight to ten feet in height. The jaw-bones found easily fit over the jnw of the largest man now living. Two or three aboriginal burying grounds have also been discov- ered in this co'inty; but the graves are generally only four feet long, two to two and a half feet wide, and about as deep as wide. The dead (and some of the living also, according to one authority) were buried in these graves in a sitting posture. Near the head of each skeleton is generally found a pipe, and in the hands a tomahawk or other implement. Every grave is lined with slate or flat sand- rock, without mortar. Digitized by Microsoft® inSToKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 309 DAVTKSS CCIL'NIV llTNTKUh' CLUB. This association was orgariizcl about ISTCi, with II. II. Tavloi', President; James M. Alsop, Vice-President; George A, AVilliams, Secretary, and Poj Hathaway, Treasui-er. A Cdnstitution and by- laws were adopted, according to whicli the re;rular meetings were to be held raonthl3^ The number of members at firbt was about fifteen; there are now twenty, which is the constitutional limit. The same officers have generally been re-elected from year to year until the present time. The principal object of the club is to have hunting excursions each spring and fall. As a sample of the good times they have, ue instance their encampment on Green River, about four miles above Livermore, commencing Oct. 20, 1881, when they had with them three fine cooks, two sleeping tents, a dressing tent, and a stable tent. They caught a fair quantity of game and fish, and drank mineral water, etc., sang, played and danced, having a violin and guitar with them, and several of tliem being trood singers. This club is one of the finest equipped in the State, and four of them on the occasion referred to had the reputation of being tlie best shots in the county; namely, Z. L. Taylor, J. M. Also]'), Barncft Kelly and Wallace Ilerr. They visit different grounds each year in tliis and adjoining counties, sometimes other States. Last year tiicy went to Southwestern Atissouri; had a good time, altliough, on account of the floods, they did not secure an abuii- danceof game. One good hunting-ground, especially for fishing, which they visit, is intlie riorthwe-t extremity of the count;y, opp i- site a point below iMiterpriso. Ind., where there is a lake, su])[ilied by overflow from the river. It is ab,)ut 200 yards in width ai d over a mile long. Barnett Kelly, who has ]irol)ably killed more deer than any other man in the country, is now living in Owensboro, un the Henderson Road. Otlier noted hunters in Daviess County have been: John II. McFarland, wlio has in his day been a fine deer- hunter, still a resident (.if Owcnsboro; Eilbeck Bairoii, now liviiig in Ohio County; Gibson Tayloi-, fatiun- of R. 11. Taylor, now aged seventy-two years, and a lesidcnt of Yclvington Precinct for the last fifty years. These men have all had their training and first experience in the primeval forest, wJien game was ])lentiful and the chase far more exciting than it is at the present day. Digitized by Microsoft® 310 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. THE FIKST MARRIAGE. " Iiinnodiatel}' alter the organization of this count\-, nainelj', June 23, 1815, a license was issued for the marriage of Samuel McCuy and Jane Helm. Two days afterward the following was recorded in the countj clerk's office: " A certificate of the marriage of the parties aforesaid was re- turned on the license as follows, to-wit: Agreeable to command of the within license, I joined together in the holy state of mar- ringe the within named Samuel McCoy and Jane Helm, on the 25th day of June, 1815, according to the forms and ceremonies of the church to which they belong. Daniel T. Pinkston, M'ln. Attest: William R. Griffith, Olerh. marriage record. The record of marriages in Daviess Countj' is complete, and in convenient form for reference. Below we give a list of the mar- riages to the close of 1820: 1815. June 23. — Samuel McCoy and Jane Helm. July 27. — Robt. Galloway and Catharine Souerheber. Aug. 7. — Caleb Hedges and Polly Davis. Aug. 7.— William Lock and Elizabeth Mothrell. Aug. 9. —John D. Arbono and Harriet C. Lumpkins. Sept. 11. — John Tribbleand Nancy Barnett. Nov. 27. — John Field and Rachel McFarland. Dec. 30. — John Neighbours and Caty Liggett (widow). 18J6. March 15. — John Johnston and Lncy Huston. May 13. — Bannister Wall and Sally Thompson. May 18. — Hugh Barnett and Polly Cummins. June 10. — John Gates and Lydia Edwards. Aug. 9. — Thomas Metcalf and Elizabeth Jones. Oct. 14. — Jesse Spray and Mary Travis. Oct. 18.— John McFarland and Elizabeth Griffitii. Nov. 6. — Azel Aterbury and Vina Lay. Nov. 25. William Beal'l and Elizabeth Bcall. Nov. 28. — George Gilmore and Patsy Isbell. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 311 Dec. 6. — Ililleiy Bealland Margaret Adams. Dec, 9. — Philip Thompson and Sally Mosley. Dec. 9. — John Roberts, Jr., and Mary Mosley. Dec. 21. — John McDaniel and Jane Adams. 1817. Jan. 0. — Abraham Shutt and Elizabeth Humphrey. Jan. 13. — Winston Martin and Polly Pinkston. Jan. 24. — William Terrell and Ann Caldwell. Feb. 4. — Ephraim Thompson and Susan Grigsby. Feb. 4. — Cyrus Pinkston and Delilah Pinkston. Feb. 2G. — James Jordan, Jr., and Jane Glenn. March 15. — Samnel Piles and Elizabeth Calhoon. March 21. — John Briant and Milly Pinkston. March 21. — Beiij. Stidham and Leanna Hohnark. May 5. — Kalpli Calhoon and Lucy Glenn. May 15. — John B. Blackwell and Kancy Hellms. July 8. — James Hellms and Rachel Taylor. July 8. — William McFarland and Frances Field. (No certificate marriage recorded.) July 10. — David Hamilton and Elizabeth Crabtree. July 21. — James Bartlettand Una Lay. Aug. 1. — William Sisk and Ann Brown. Sept. — John Barnett and Jjcah Howard. Sept. 30. — James C. Barnett and Delilah McFarland. Oct. 30. — John W Crow and Cynthia McCreery. Nov. 26. — James Roman and Elizabeth Brooks (widow). Dec. 30. — Gabriel Hart and Mary May. 18 IS. Jan. 6. — Robert Wood and Millay Briant. Jan. 5. — Abner Basset and Nancy Galloway. Feb. 3. — Joseph Davis and Sally Myers. Feb. 3.— William M. Jones and Ollie Ma>. Feb. 24.— John Totteti and Editha Vandike. Feb. 17. — Robert Lamb and Polly Briant. March 4. — Joseph Riggs and Lucy Dicken. Apr. 8.- Reuben Field and Agness Barnett (widow). Apr. 11. — Harrison Adkins and Polly Smith. A]jr. 15. — (.xeorge Tribble and Elizabeth Bingham. Digitized by Microsoft® 312 HISTORT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. May 8. — Jesse Lockett and Sally Bates. May 30. — Nathan Arterberry and Lavise Arterberry. June 3. — Willis Duncan and Frances Frazier. June 19. — John Davis and Elizabeth Miller. June 25. — James Newton and Fanny Field. Aug. 2. — William R._ Duncan and Kitty Roberts. Aug. 4. — Groves Howard and Elizabeth Moore. Aug. 22. — Daniel Brown and Jane Hale. Aug. 26. — Joseph S. Webb and Ann Vandike. Sept. 5.— Thomas W. Palmer and Sarah Wells. Sept. 8. — Nace Overall and Amelia H. Daveiss. Sept. 8 — Benj. B. Lockett and Jane Gary. • Oct. 27. — George Calhoon and Mary Gillmore. Dec. 14. — John Gabbert and Polly McKenny. Dec. 15. — -John Howard and Margaret Moore. Dec. 12. — Josepli McDaiiiel, Jr., and Rhody Kirk. Dec. 16 — Baptist Mattox and Leah McDaniel. Dec. 26. — Michael Coyle and Mary Black. Dec. 29. — Jeremiah Lncas and Susanna May. Dec. 30.— John Myers and Polly Bassett. 1&19. Jan 8. — Aaron Taylor arid Lydia Maxon. Jan. 13. — Pleasant Cox and Charlotte Wyley. Jan 18.— William Medcalf and Elizabeth Brown. March 21. — ^^ William Tanner and Anna Brown. March 27. — John H. Priest and Isabella Grigsby. March 28. — Morgan Hawkins and Sally Helms. Apr. 16.— Elisha Barker and Polly Huff. Apr. 24. — William McFarland and Patsey Chambers. May 8. — John W. Pattern and Nancy Anderson (widow). May 13. — Moses Lang and Isbel Mclntire. May 10. — Walker Glover and Sarah McFarland. Aug. 11. — Lewis Riley and Cassandra Pedicord. Sept. 11. — Jacob Phigley and Elizabeth Gibson. Sept. 10. — Zachariah Galloway and Margaret Pearson. Sept. 25. — Martin Richardson and Parmelia Lockett. Oct. — Hiram Jones and Sally Taylor. Oct. 10. —Thomas Martin and Sally Winkler. Oct. 10. — Ezekiel Hedges and Polly Tanner. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 313 Oct. 23. — Joseph Taylor and Elizabeth Grannay {alias Sally Martin). Nov. 10. — Henry Courtney and Harriet Lumpkins. Nov. 11. — Edward Shown and Fenita T. Pinkston. Nov. 17. — John Sanders and Hannah Stephenson. Dec. 4. — S. T. Hynes and Elizabeth H. Thompson (no return of marriage recorded). Dec. 21. — Leonard Jones and Polly May. 1820. Jan. 3. — Levi S. Scott and Sally Lawrence (no certificate of marriage recorded). Jan. 6. — John Jeffords and Polly Rice. Jan. 6. — James Egleheart and Ellen Humphrey. Jan. 10. — Harry Owen and Eliza Howard. Jan. 10.— Terry Thorp and Polly E. Howard. Jan. 24. — George Metcalf and Elizabeth Winkler. Jan. 24. — Richard L. Maynard and Lucy Davis. Feb. 2. — Owen Howard and Polly Howard. Feb. 18. — Cecilius Hood and Mary Mo Daniel. Feb. 15. — James Nelson and Snsannali Crews. Feb. 21. — Zach. Field and Amelia Tanner. March 2. — William Brown and Anna E. Atherton. March 25. — John McCracken and Peggy Hall (no certificate re- corded). March 25. — Benj. Duncan and Nancy Beauchamp. May 10. — Sam'^iel Carbot and Sully Timmons. April 13.— William R. Griffith and Area Mosely. May 31.— Henry W. Clark and Sally Clark. June 9. — David Barnett and Agnes Hodges (no certificate re corded). June 15. — John Gaither and Rebecca Bell. June 28. — Thomas Tanner and Nancy Davis. July 6. — Nicholas G. Worthington and Eliza White. Aug. 1. — William May and Mrs. Catharine Cook. Aug. 7. — William Clark and Catharine Timmons. Aug. 15. — Andrew O'Neal and Ann Higgins. Aug. 24. — Russell Isan and Mary Ann Perry. Aug. 24. — James M. Rogers and Jane Adams. Sept. 13. — John Glenn and Elizabeth Allen. Digitized by Microsoft® 314 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Sept. 11. — Smith Akes and Martha Chamberlain. Oct. 14. — Jacob Crabtree and Elizabeth Travis. Oct. 14. — William M. Kelms and Catharine Hnsk. Oct. 31.— Renben Harris and Elitha Akes. Nov. 1. — James x\rchibald and Patience Taylor. Nov. 3. — Hezekiah L. Priest and Patsey Lumpkins. Dec. 21.— William Kirkham and Annis Rogers. (No certificate recorded.) Dec. 27. — William Howard and Polly Moore. Dec. 27. — John May and Patsey Davidson. In compiling the foregoing list of names we found numerous contradictions in their orthography, and therefore some ot them are doubtless spelled wrong here. In one instance tliere occurred what appeared to be a dating back by half a year; and in another the parties married were not the parties licensed to '~<^ married. The annual number of marriages, for the last ek. _ years, have been as follows : 1873. 1873.. 1874. 1875. 1876. 1877. ..177 ..194 ..191 .196 ..170 ..220 1878. 1879.. 1880. 1881. 1883. .201 .148 .117 .314 .340 THE FIRST STEAMBOAT DOWN THE OHIO. In October, 1811 (or 1814, according to pne authority), Fulton's steamboat, called the New Orleans, intended to run from that city to Natchez, left Pittsburg for its point of destination. Late at night on the fourth day after quitting Pittsburg it arrived in s ifety at Louisville, having been but seventy hours descending upward of 700 miles. The novel appearance of the vessel, and the fear- ful rapidity with which it made its passage over the broad reaches of the river, excited a mi.Kture of terror and surprise among many of the settlers on the banks, whom the rumor of such an invention had never reached; and it is related that on the unexpected arrival of the boat before Louisville, in the course of a fine, still moon- light night, the extraordinary sound which filled the air, as the pent-up steam escaped from the sonorous pipes, produced a general alarm, and many arose from their beds to ascertain the cause. Some even thouglit the c~ et, whicli had been in view some time previously, had fallen r;. j the river. The escape of Digitized by Microsoft® HISTOEY OF DAVIESS OOUNTY. 315 steam from the old-style engine was much more sonorous than from the modern engine, through tiie condenser. The water on the falls did not allow the New Orleans to pass down immediately, and she consequently economized her time by plying between Louisville and Cincinnati; but toward the last of November she was able to pass the rapids and " astonish the na- tives " along the shores of Daviess County. ANECDOTAL. " Charley Boss,'' Co/ored.Sand-dy nigli: of Nov. 4, 1877, it was Mr. Koss' turn to stay at liome up town and " nuss " the baby while his wife attende 1 church. In his front room he rocked his little Charley to sleep, and, taking the slumbering infant in his arms, he sought the nursery and snugly tucked the little fellow in his bed. Imprinting a kiss upon his tirst-born, he returned to his family room, there to await his wife's return. He dozed off into a sleep, but was shortly awakened by a noise in the nursery. Alarmed at once lest some danger had befallen little Charley, he rushed frantically from his room into the nursery, up to the bed, and, in his excitement, he noticed no Charley there. The father was wild with grief. " Kidnapped! kidnapped!" he said, and rushed madly into the street, down to the church in the extreme lower end of the city, where worshiped his wife, and in one last, long, lingering cry, yelled, " Little Charley has been stolen !" and sank down exhausted. The excitement was indescrib- able. His friends made all haste from tlie church, headed by the fond mother, straightway to the residence, and there found — little Charley, as snug as a bug in a rug and snoring away most lustily. " Who was it put him dar ? 'Twere angels," said the father. "And I tliink that saving a little child And bringin' it to its own, Is a darn sight better business Than a-loafin' about the throne." Didn't know it was Sunday. — Nov. 4, 1877, an old lady of a Maud Muller cast of features and appearance came into Owens- boro, basket on arm, to " do some shopping," as she expressed it; and, stepping into Head's drug store, inquired why it was that the stores were ail closed, and whether Mr. Smith's butcher-shop would be open soon. Mr. Head politely informed her that he sup- posed Mr. Smith's shop would remain closed all day; that he was a gentleiian who always observed tlie Sabbath, and was doubtless then in at emlance at Sunday-Echool Digitized by Microsoft® 316 HISTOBY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. " Sunday-school ! " shrieked the old lady, letting her basket fall and throwing up her hands in holy horror; " Sunday-school! Why, Mister, you don't tell me this is Sunday?" " Sunday it is, madam, beyond the peradventure of a doubt," replied the suave druggist. "Well, law sakes alive! and there's my old man out in the field hard at work, and me in town shoppin' and its Sunday! But, Mister, don't you tell on me, and I'll go right home, blow the horn for John, make him put on his Sunday clothes, and we'll both ride old Ball to church;" and she hastened away. A slip between- the cup and the lip.~~Iu November, 1868, a little circumstance occurred that proved the truth of the adage tliat " truth is stranger than fiction." A courtship, with all its sighs and wooings, had long existed between a gentleman and lady of this county, and at last the appointed day approached when the " two souls " which were sup- posed to contain but a " single thought," were about to be " linked into one," arrived. The license was obtained, the wedding supper prepared, and nothing but the afilrmative answer to the questions propounded by the minister were necessary to make them " bone of one l)one," etc., and entitled to walk down life's path together But the afiair turned out rather one sided. When the parties were upon the floor, " Will you take this woman to be your lawful and wedded wife?" was answered by the would-be groom in the aflirma- tive with great promptness and alacrity; but when the minister propounded the same question with a slight variation to the young lady, she archly, and with a malicious wink of her eye, replied "iV^o." This turn of affairs of course produced a great sensation among the young people, while the elder ones lifted their specs and solemnly mused upon the frivolities of youth, and sought a solution to the strange proceedings, which was about this, and should teach a lesson of caution to the rising generation: A few days before the time for the consummation of the nuptials the young gent imprudently remarked to his atlianced that he was "inclined to regret that their wedding day was so near at hand, but that the matter had gone so fir now that in honor he could not relieve himself" This speech was harbored up by the young lady aforesaid, and she took the ab(;ve method of " relieving " him of his "honor," and hence his woe and disappointment, which were justly merited. Digitized by Microsoft® HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 317 DISTANCES ALONG THE OHIO ElVEE, FROM LOUISVILLE TO CAIRO. Miles. L'luisvillu 0 Silver C.'eok 2'^' Kew Albany, Inil 41^ Middle Creek 9 Hughes' Bar 10 Knob Creek 13 Christ! ipher's Crossing 18 Dean's Wood Yard 20 Salt River 25 New Boston 29 Otter Creek 33 Tobacco Landing 30 iiHlpdenburg, Ky 41 Mftuckport, Ind 44 Amsterdam 51 Upper Blue Eiver Island, Head. 55 Leavenworth, Ind 59 Fredonia 62 Schooner Point 65 Hawkins' Landing 69 Pecken paw's Bar Head 70 Woll' Creek 72 Little Blue River 733^ Alton, Ind 74 Reno, Ind 78 Hatfield's House 80 Concordia, Ky 83 Davis Landing, Ind 83 James Elsby, Pilot 84 Oil Creek 86i^ Derby 87i^ Yellow Bank Creek 91 ClienauU's Reach, Foot 93 Stepbensport 96 Bear Creek 08 Holt's Bar 99 Gregory's, K3' 104 Cloverport, Ky • 106 Fauoclt's Creek 107 Millstone Creek I'lJ^ Reck Island 114 llrtwi'sville 118 Tell City, Ind 131 Troy 13.5 Lfwisport l')3 Grand View ISfii^ Honey Cireek 1 39 Rockport, Ind 141 Upper Yellow Bank Isl'd, Head. 145i^ Owensboro 150 Bon Harbor 153 Miles. Enterprise ISCJi^' Point Isabel 159 French Island 161 Pigeon Creek, Ind 167 Cj'press Creek, Ind 169 Newburg 171 Green River, Ky 176J^ Evansville, Ind 1843^ Henderson, Ky 196 Henderson, Ind 197' ;,' West Franklin 209 Diamond Islai d. Font 213 Mt. Vernon, Ind 220 Slim Island, Head 234 Slim Island, Foot 2271-^ Louisiana Rocks 2323^ Uniontown, Ky 234 Lower Highland Rocks 2S5% Wabash Island, Head 237i|' Wabash River 2393^ Wabash Island, Foot 242 Raleigh 245 Shawneetown, 111 249 Coal Banks 251 Saline River, 111 258 Sbotwell'b Coal Bank 260 Caseyville, Ky 262 Tradewater River 264 Weston 266^4 Ford's Perry 268 Cave-in-Rock Town 271 Big Hurricane Island, Head 275 ElizMbethtown 2783^ Roseclair, 111 281 Carrsvillo 283 Golconda, 111. 291 Prior Island 294 Sister's Island, Head 297 Bay City, 111 300 Slewfirt's Island, Head 302 Dog Island, Head 307 Smilhland, Ky 309 Pulltight, or West Liberty 3103^ Paducah, Ky 321 Brooklyn 324 Metropolis, 111 330 Hillirmau's 340 Caledonia 353 Mound City, 111 360 Cairo, 111 368 Digitized by Microsoft® 1IISI(i1:Y ''!■" liAVII'S- Cill'M'V. The foUiiwinn- lahie imliciUeN the coldest find hottest days of each veai-t'rnin I^H tu 1^71, as ob-ier\ed at Louisville: eOLUKST DAY. . TEMP. I HOTTEST r>.\Y. ' TEMP. is-l;-; 1^42-^ 18J3-1 1844-0 l.''4r)-6 184(i-7 1847-8 1848-9 , 1849-50 : 1850-1...- ' 1851-3 I 1802-3 ! 1853-4 : 1854-5 ! 1855-6 1 1850-7 ! 18.57-8 ! 1858-9 j 1859-GO ' 1860-1 1 ]8(U-2 , 1SG3-3 '■ 1803-4 1804-5 1865-fi 1800-7 1S07-8 !808-!i ■-•(I'.I-IU ^^7(!-l Feb. 17 40 Sept. 11 98" I'l'b. ]0 - 3 July 1 , '->■' J;U1 . :;!9 - 1 I Aug. 20 1 98 Dec. 19 3 i July 15 ' 90 Dec. 2 —10 ! Aug. 0 100 Jan. 11 — 9 •luly 1 95 Jau. 10 — 0 June 27 93 Feb. 19 — 7 Au^^ 22 89 Feb. 4 1 July 0 91 Jan. 01 0 July 27 93 Jan. 19 11 July 23 94 Feb. !l — 81.; July 9 98 Jan. 23 — 4 Sept. 3 102 Feb. 2(i 0 ' July 17 97 Jan. 10 —22!,' 1 July 17 99 Jan. 19 —24', , July 17 96 Feb. 23 —101., . Aug. 7 98 Jan. S — 1 July 14 101 Dec. 23 —121., , Aug. 1 100 Dec. 31 11 Aug. :i 99 Feb. 15 0 July 9 9S Jan. 18 0 Aug, 1 93 Jan. 1 —20 July 29 80 Jan. 28 6 July 4 95 Feb. 15 — 3 July 15 93 Feb. 10 — 11 Aug. 18 95 Jan. :!0 4 . Jufy 10 99 Dec. {•J — 1 Aug. 24 99 l''eb. 21 2 July 27 90 Dei. 24 — 2 Aug. 14 102 M-'l'.\M.'i:s ox GKEEN KINlOl;. J\Iileb. Mouth of Green River I) ^ll()ttSYill<■ ^' M.isou's Landing 10 Hu-k's Mil! 22 f'llliiK.n's Ferry 20 (Junlsvilie ~; 1^ nf■^a^.s L;iRding..r 40 S:^'.-.iTHiort 17 Ciark's'Ff 'A'livlit.slii'rg 52 M-irgiuUiwu' Mil W'l.iii ..^liurii, or l'.-i\ nc's Land;iiL' i^hkvsluirtr l^'-MiM'v, iir'C,.!lic...!i I,!'- Lllil'l'-e r- li' rie isini South Carrollton 8^ Lowisburg HO t'eralvo ',i{', Ainh-i'j \^■orks 103 F.ira-lise 104 Koclifst.. 1-, (.)■ SkybviJle 113 ( 'roiuwull ". 135 \'i^Hi).siiort. . , . 139 151 153 i:-. . Wi odbury 158 'f-' ' Ci-.rk's J.,anding 103 >< ( .reel rastle, or ■\\',invnlou 171 ■'i UoMiiuf (irecn 189 ') Giaimiii'i Jjaiiding 193 Digitized by Microsoft® •ISTORY OF PAVIESS COUNTY. 319 DISTANCES BY THE 0. A N. RAILROAD. Miles. Owensboi'o 0 Sutherland's 1 Crow's 9 Lewis 13 Riley's 15 Miles. Liverraore 21 Island 24 Stroud's 27 South Carrollton 32 E. & P. R. R. Junction 35 POSTOFFICES. £h^k 6%^, twelve miles west of Owensboro, in Oakford Precinct and on Green River. Craig, seven miles east of Owensboro, in Xnottsville Precinct. Gurdsville, fourteen miles southwest of Owensboro. Delaware, twenty-one miles southwest of Owensboro, in Cur^'?- ville Precinct, on Green River. OrissoTri's Landing, ten miles northwest of Owensboro, on the Ohio River, and in Oakford Precinct. Knottsville, thirteen miles east of Owensboro, on the Hardins- burgroad. Ma^onville, nine miles southeast of Owensboro, on the Hartford road. Owensboro, the county seat. Panther, twelve miles southwest of Owensboro, near Panther Creek. Philpot Station, eight miles southeast of Owensboro on the Litchfield road, near North Panther Creek, and in Upper Town Pre- cinct. Pleasant Ridge, fifteen miles southeast of Owensboro, on the Hartford road, in Murray Precinct, near the county line. Sorghotown, eight miles southwest of Owensboro, in Sorgho- town Precinct, and two miles east of Green River, on the Hender- son road. Utica, at Lewis's Station, twelve miles south of Owensboro, on the railroad, in Murray Precinct. West Louisville, fourteen miles southwest of Owensboro, In Gurdsville Precinct. WMtesville, fifteen miles southeast of Owensboro, on the Litcli- field road, in Boston Precinct. Ydvington, ten miles north.east of Owensboro, on the Hawesville road. Digitized by Microsoft® 320 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTV. COUNTl' ATLAS. A very correct and faitlifiil "Historical Atlas" of this county was published by Loo McDoiiough & Go. during- the centennial year. It is so wuU known to the citizens of Daviess Coimtj' that a description is scarcely needed. It contain? "eighty-one pages," counting tv.'elve blank pages; size, 13 x Ifi inches. The publishers made the serious mistake of drawing most of the map's on a scale about twenty per cent, larger than the book could " comfortablj' " contain. He.'^ce it is inclined to "'gag,'" with tongues sticking out around the edges! Its contents are: A page of statistics and reference symbols, well S])road out, two and a half pages of county history, one page of pre- cinct history, maps of the preci?icts. State of Kentucky, United States, and of the whole world — the latter, of course, on a small scale; also thirty full-page illustrations of buildings and their premises, fifty-five biographical sketches of prominent citizens, and a list of patrons which purports to be only a " portion " of them. In the delivery of this work the publishers mot with considerable opposition, on the ground that the maps were too large for the book, and were incorrect; that some names were spelled wrong; that the paper was poor, etc.; but they ultimately proved in court that they had fr'filluJ their part of the contract, and the protesting pations were accordingly compelled to fulfill theirs. OWENSnoRO DIKEOTOKY AND CO0NTT GAZETTEER. Tliis work is so fiithful that we quote the title page entire: "EintM'Ron and Willi;ini.-;'s Owonsboro Directory. 1882-'3; being a couij)leto iiid. x to tlu; I'c^identa of the city; also a classified business direi-tory; to which is added an ajinendix containing useful infoirna- tion of city, count\ State, and miscellaneous matters: together with a street dirertory, a gazetteer of D.iviess County, and a post- o'fiee dir^ctoiy of Kentui-.ky. Price, three dollars. Louisville: ])i'inted at the V'Hir'i^r Join , -ml l\ oh Oltice. Is8:l" I'his, being Ihoir fii's.t diioctory of this city or county is very carefully coinjtiiod; aud the i)ublishers announce their intention to issue a new one in 18^5. Tliis issue contains 277 octavo pages. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XV. OWENSBORO. This growing city is located on the south bauk of the Ohio River, at what was known to the early boatmen as the " Lower" or " Big Yellow Banks." As a name of this place, however, this was gener- ally abbreviated to ihi simpler form, "Yellow Banks," and the town was scarcely known by any other name until about 1839 or '40. The postoffice bore this name from the time of its establish- ment in 1818 or '19, until 1837 or '8. The name is derived from the deep yellow color of the river bank, as it conspicuously exhibited itself to river travelers coming from either direction. This bank of yellow clay extends about six miles along the river, from ten to twenty feet above high-water mark. The foot of Frederica street is 37° 48' north latitude, and 10° 9' west longitude from Wa&h- inofton, D.C. Bill Smothers has the credit of erecting the first cabin at this point, which was probably one of the two only structures existing here in 1812, one of these being a store. Both were of logs. The site was selected as the county seat in 1815, by commissioners ap- pointed by the first County Court, held in April of that year. The survey of the first plat of the town extended from the Ohio River and a ravine on the north, to Fourth street on the south, and from Lewis street on the east to Walnut street on the west. The survey and plat thereof was completed by Captain James W. Johnston, the first County Surveyor, on the 23d day of March, 1816, and approved by the commissioners and court with the name of Rossbo.ro, and ratified by the agent and owners of the land, Greorge Handley being agent for David Ross and other proprietors. Every fourth lot wa3 donated to the trustees for public purposes. The name of this place was changed to " Owensboro" (spelled then with a uffk), probably in April, 1818; for we see in an old day- book kept by David Morton or his clerk at that time that the head lines of pages read " Yellow Banks" up to April 8, that year, and after that " Owensborough." This name was given in honor of the hero whose sketch here follows : 21 Digitized by fmirosoft® 322 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUN'JY. Colonel Abraham Oioen was born in Prince Edward County, Va., in 1Y69, and emigrated to Shelby County, Ky., in 1785. His first appearance on the public theater was npon Wilkinson's campaign, in the summer of 1791, on the White and Wabash Rivers. He was a Lieutenant in Captain Lemon's company in St. Clair's defeat, JSTov. 4, 1791, and received two wounds in that engagement. He was in the expedition led by Colonel Hardin to White River, and participated in the action which routed the Indians in their hunting camps. His brother John, James Ballard and others of Shelby County were his associates on this occasion. He commanded the first militia raised in tlie county, and Singleton Wilson, of Shelby- ville, was the Lieutenant. Owen was soon promoted to Major, and then Colonel of the regiment. Colonel Owen was elected to the Legislature by the largest vote ever before polled in the county, and in 1799 was chosen a member of the Convention wliich framed the State Constitution. Shortly be- fore his death, he was a member of the Senate of Kentucky. In 1811 he was the first to join Governor Harrison at Vincennes, for the purpose of aiding in the effort to resist the hostile movements of the Indian bands collected by the energy and influence of Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet. He wascliosen by General Harrison to be one of his aids-de-camp, and at the memorable battle of Tippe- canoe fell at tiie side of his heroic chief, bravely fighting for his country, deeply regretted by the whole army. In the following December the Legislature went into mourning for the loss of Colo- nel's Daveiss, and Owen, and others who fell at Tippecanoe; and in 1819-'20, the memory of Colonel Owen was perpetuated by a county bearins his name. He left a large family to unite with his country in deploring his premature falL Many of his relatives and de- scendants became distinguished in Kentucky aiul Texas, The chivalric patriotism oF Colonel Owen, in leaving a position of ease -inddistinction at home, to volunteer his services against the Nortl'.western savages, is truly illustrative of the Kentucky char- acter; and after-ages look back upon the deeds of heroism at Tip- pei'nnne, 'vith t!ie same veneratik, kept i)y David Morton, a merchant hn-o in early timen, or by !,!? clerk oi- bookkeeper, .I.jhn Hatha- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 323 away. Mr. Morton died in this city in 1858. His son, Samuel Morton, is now clerk of the Planter's Hotel. Mr. Nunn still has a fragment of this interesting relic. It contains entries from Ma^. 24 to April 14 — a period of twenty- two days. The pages are from 305 to 3^8 of the day-book, and contain forty lines to the page, or an average of about fifteen entries. As the names of many of those entered as " Dr. " will appear familiar to many of our readers, we append a few : Robert McFarland, Jr. John Kennady, Pii^kncy Gilchrist, ,James McKinney, Wm. Harris, John Patton, John M . Gabbert, James Jordan, Caleb Shelton, John S. Stutson, Samuel Johnson, George Metcalf, Joseph Griggsby, John Piles, James Bryant, John Travis, George Taylor, Mrs. McNemer, John W. Cheatham, John Daveis=, James Everton, John C. Craddocb, Warner Lewis, Edmond Cheatham, Wm. Odnm, James McFarland, James HoUingshead, Mrs. Anderson, Thomas Taylor, Rogers, GrifBth & Co., Thomas Moseley, Sr. Leroy C. Bristow, George Bell, Wyatt Martin, Henry Roberts, Wm. Lujnpkin, Henry Kirkbam, David Atteberry, Lewis Love, Israel Alteberry, Martin's Nat, Wm. Wood, Henry White, Basset t's Isaac, Cecilius Wood, Isaiah Marks, Charles Worthington, John Snvder, Moses D. Carter, Jas. W. Chappell, Wi ight Taylor, David Mathis, Hilary Beall, Daniel Cooncy, John Roberts, Peter Slagle, Wm. Evans, Margaret Adams, Rosa Ewing, Wm. Clement, George Handley, Charles Duncan, Wm. R. Duncan, David Winkler, Abner Bassetl, James Roberts, Benj. Yager, Zach. Galloway, Isaac Holmes, etc. It may be observed that there are no nicknames in the above list, except, perhaps, in the instance of one colored servant "Nat." The accounts were kept in both English and American denomi- nations, as appears in the specimen, which also shows the retail prices of the various commodities: 2 lbs. Cdffi e, @ 3s $ 1.00 2 lbs. Brown Sugar, @ 28c 56 1 bottle Snuff, @ 3s. 9d 621^ 14: lb. Imperial Tea, @ 18s 75 5 lbs. 10 oz. Loaf Sugar, @ 3s i.SlU 1 yd. English Factoiy, @ 3s. 9d 62}| 7 Bridle, @ 8s. 3d 1.373| 7 yds. English Stripes, @ 4s. 6d 5.25 0 yds. Brown Shirting, @ 2s. 7i.^d 2.621^ 2 "Black Bolls (Bowls.'), @ Is. 9d 25 1 lb. 8d. Nails, @ ls.6d 25 1 yd. Calico, @ 2s. 3d . .37}^ ^ yd. Jaconet Muslin, @ 9a 1.12% 5)4 yds. Domestic Checks, @ 3s 2.75 1 Pocket Glass, @ 23. 3d 87J^ 1 hank Cotton Thread, @ 9d 13^ 2 di)z. Shoe Tacks, @ 9d 25 1 doz. Fish-Hooks, @ Is. 6d 25 2 Glass Tumblers, @ 9d 25 Digitized by Microsoft® 324 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Ipr. Boots 1150 1 pr. Shoes, @, 15s f'>^ 1 pr. Morocco Slippers @ Ts. 6ii I- '■> 1 qt. Bottle, @ U. 6d S^ 1 Pocket Knife, @, 3,s. oJ 'o^H 1 skein Silk, @ 9J 123/2 1 Hoc, ©98 1 ■•^>0 3 qts. Whisky, @ Is. (id lO 1 3.2-gal. Buitle, @ :!s 50 1 pr. Lndies' Slippers, ((^ 10s. 6d 1.75 1 Lancet, (ol Is. Cd 'in 1 set Edged Pliites, (a 6s 1.00 1;., yds. Brown Clotli, © 18j 4.50 1 Vest Pattern and Trimmings 1.123^ 8 yds. lied Flannel, @ 3s. 9d -. 5.00 1 Lamp, @ 33 51) lyd. Cambric, @ 3s 50 4 yds. Dimity, @ 33. Od 2 50 10 11)8. Nails, @ 2'2c 2.20 1 doz. Needles, @, 9d 123^ 1 paper Pius, @ Is. 6d . . . , 25 2 oz. Indigo, @ Is. 6d 50 2 yds. Domestic Sheeting, ((S 3s. Od 1.25 1 pr. Black Silk Gloves, fn. 4s. fid 75 1 Coffee Boiler, @. 4s. Gd 75 1 Casl-Steel Chiset, @ Is. 6d 25 1 Plane Bit, (?« 2s, 3d , 37>^ 1 pr. Specks (Spectiicles ?) (ni 5s. 3d 5.50 yi U). Pepper, (» 3s. Od 3U4 33 lbs. Iron, @ Is. Cd 5,28 1 oz Cinnamon Bark, («) Is. Gd 25 1 qt. Wine, (7(1 6s -. 100 OWE.NSDdRu IN 1820. The following letter dated Jiilv 2, 1620, was written by Turenne W Watkiiis, at Ovvenshpi-o, then Yellow Banks, and addressed to Thomas W. Watkins, Ellicott Mills, Md. Mr. William R. Griffith, whose marriage is mentioned, was the i'ather of lions. Clint and Diiiiel GrifHtli of O\veiisboro. Many other familiar names are also mentioned. •'Yellow Banks, Ky., July 2, 1820. •'Dear Brother: — I embrace the earliest op])ortnnity to acknowl- edge the receipt of your kind letter bearing date June 2u. Althons. I believe in my last to fither I mentioned William R. GrillitliV union with Miss Aria Moseley; if not you are miw iidorm<-(l. \\q ,,^.j^g nriitcd to hei- in April last, and 1 think if there i.< aiii' r.'al h;i|i|,i. ncss to 1)0 derived from a married lil'c he'eiijoys ashiire, for 1 think God has bestowed on him one of the choicest blessing,< of heaven a woman fully ciilculffljg^;fee(!/tt)i)d(Wrct/i'OSOfif®ried state a permanent OWBNSBORO. 325 paradise. Ricliard S. May was married to Mrs. Lucy Davis, daughter of Ca]>taiii Benjamin Fields, last winter. John Gaither, nephew of Uncle Basil Gaither, was married to Rebecca Bell two weeks ago, and has taken her to Missouri. James M. Rogers will he niarrictl to Jane Adaius as soon as he returns from New Orleans, which will be in a few days. Nicholas G. Worthington and Miss Eliza Whitewill, daughter of Henry Whitewill, will be married on the sixth of this month. I am to be groomsman, and Susan Adams, bridesmaid. * * * " You wished me to write you relative to the credit and standing of our Owensboro merchants. To give you a true account of their circumstances would be impossible; but I will endeavor to come as near the point as possible. Roger_Griffith & Co., I have every reason to believe, are perfectly solvent; S. I. & D. Morton, I believe, are are also solvent, although somewhat pressed, which is the case with every speculative character or merchant. Thompson and Moseley, 1 suppose, are also solvent; still, I think their case somewhat doubt- ful. I have understood that some time past a Philadelphia mer- chant drew on them for $40,000. John D. Moseley has gone into Missouri to live. He and Renben Bates are going to set up a grocerj'. "You mentioned that you had not received a letter from uie acknowledging the receipt of $10 sent me by mail. I wj-ote to you immediately on the receipt of it to that amount. I did not think to ask Williams if he liad received any, but I think he did. He has written to you frequently and received no answer. He says he will quit writing if you do not pay more attention to liis letters, and for me to inform you that he is well and started a letter to you some time in June, and shall anxiously await the arrival of an answer. Neither he nL>r James will be in this fall, owing to their tobacco not getting to market. It has been lying in Green River better than, three month?, and at last have to haul to this place to ship. They intend to have it sent on to you with instruc- titms to bring on gonds, — at least talked strongly of doing so, — but the detainers ot the produce prevented their raising funds sufficiently to put in execution t])eir dtsigns. I suppose you have he.ird who has offu'.^d for the next Governor; if not yon will be informed on the receipt of this-: General Adair, ]?ntlcr Logan, and several others not worth mentioning. Adair's election, I think, is sure. The candidates for the Senate are: Ben Duncan Anderson, of Uaidinsburg, and Dr. Charles McCreery, of Hart- Digitized by Microsoft® 326 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. ford; Duncan, I think, will be elected. Candidates for the House of Representatives are: Beverly Todd, Captain Penticorii, Henry White, AVilliarn JSTewton and D. Warner Crow; Crow's election sure, I think. Candidates for Congress are: Young Ewing, Dr. A. Delaney, and one or two others; I know not which will carry the day. "Prospects are well; my love to father, mother, brothers and sisters, and all inquiring acquaintances. I am still in bad health; have a constant pain, or weakness, in my breast — it is generally thought to be consumption. I shall remove from this place as soon as circumstances will admit. Alfred, Charlotte and family are all well. Write to me frequently. ''The amount that stands against you on G., R. & Co.'s books is $224.61. I don't think Alfred will be able to pay you before next spring. He has a line stock of hogs on hand. Perhaps he will kill 20,000 weight next fall. If tliere should be a good market, then, and not before, he will be able to discharge the debt. I hope you will all be mare attentive to me and write frequently. It has been nearly a twelve-month since 1 received a letter from you until I received the one now before me. Tell Caroline and Camps- adell they must write to me. My compliments to Mr. Crabster and sister. He is one letter in my debt, and I would be glad to receive it. Write me everytliing that has transpired since I left Maryland. I would write often, but there is notiiing going on here that would be in any way satisfactory to you. Remember me to the servants in genera', and-believe-me ever your affectionate brother, " T. W. Watkins." FKAGMENTAKY ITEMS. Mrs. Howard, wife of T. J. Howard, deceased, was born in Oldham County, Ky., twenty-five miles north of Louisville, about 1803, and was brought here by her parents Jan. 20, 1808, who landed at Yellow Banks when there were but few log cabins and a store kejjt by Daniel Moseley. The father of the latter kept the first boarding house in the county. Mrs. Howard was a daughter of James and Anna (Boone) Barnhill, the latter being a second cousin of Daniel Boone. John H. McFarland's second wife was the first child born, in Owensboro. The oldest houses novi^ in Owensboro are the "Moreland House " and the hou.se on the next corner, which used to be occupied by Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 327 Dr. Haynes, and two log cabins at the corner of Sixth and "Walnut streets. One of the oldest log houses in Owensboro was torn down in 1869, and on its site Leo Sims that year built a large tobacco ware- house. The cabin was built about 1820 or before, by a man named Yeager, and was the first house on what is now Frederica street. It was occupied every year during its existence. What memories linger around such a spot ! Frederica street is said to have been named by Mr. Ross, in honor of a mulatto slave he owned at the time. The name, how- ever, has been variously spelled. Indian Generosity. — In 1784 or '5, among a party which em barked at the falls of the Ohio to descend the river, was Andrew Rowan. While the boat stopped at the Yellow " Banks on the Indiana side, Mr. Rowan borrowed a loaded gun, but no nmrnu- nition, and started off in pursuit of amusement rather than game. When he returned the boat had gone; the party having seen "signs" of Indians approaching, and not daring to wait for Mr. Rowan, hastened ofi" down stream. The latter started toward the nearest white settlement — Yincennes, 100 miles distant — but soon lost his way, wandered about fur three days and, exhausted, lay down to die. Roused by the report of a gun, he rose and walked in the direction of the sound. An Indian, seeing him, raised his gun to fire; Rowan turned the butt of his gun, and the Indian, with French politeness, turned the butt of his also. Taking pity upon Rowan's helpless condition, the Indian led him to his wig- wam, and treated him with great hospitality until his strength was regained, and then took him to Yincennes. Wishing to reward his generosity. Mr. Rowan arranged with a merchant to pay him $300; but the Indian persistently refused to receive a cent of it. He finally, to please Mr. Rowan, accepted a new blanket, wrapping which around him, he said, with some feeling, " Whenever I wrap myself in it, I, will think of you." GENERAL PROGRESS. In 1833 the population of Owensboro was scarcely 200 all told, and not a single church edifice or organization. The increase in population was small until 1850. A branch of the Southern Bank was located in Owensboro about that time. The power of the trustees had been enlarged by Legislative action, and those offi- cials began to drain and improve the streets. The action of the Digitized by Microsoft® 328 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. trustees, and the fact tliat tlie bank was one of tlic institutions oi the place, gave assurance that there was some money in town, and seemed to infuse new li'e into tlic citizens, oven tlie o'd foiry part of the population, wliicli had been averse to entcr]n'ise. Improve- ments began to be made. P)etter houses were ('ommenced, new comers jumreil in and a steady growth was maintained until iSlil, wlien tlie war put a sto]i to all cHti-rurisr and puljlic improvement. Tlie pf)pulati(in dcci'eased, and imi uutil iSfJfi did improvements begin again, or was an iiici'ca-^e of |io]iuhiti(iii noted. A modei-ate but perce])tible degree of j)r(\gress and growth has continued until now, in 1SS3, wheii the population is estimated at about 11,600. OWENSIiORO AS A CrTY. Owensboro received a city cliai'ter from the State Legislature, Feb. 16, 1866. The ftdlowing is the first entry of proceedings in the record book, ,and bears date of Aia-il 9, 1866: " Pursuant to the provisions of the cliarter incorporating the city of Owensboro, E. 8. Ayrcs, who had been duly elected to the office of Mayor of said city, James Kennady, M. D. Soyd and -J. Deal, who had been duly elected as Councilmen for the upper ward, ;ind Benjamin Bransford, fTCorge Brown and William Shelby, who had been duly elected as Councilmen for the lower ward, appeared at the court-house in tlie city of Owensboro on Monday, the 9tli day of April, 1866, at three o'clock i>. m., and were ene\\ At ,i Meetiu"- held April 16, forty-nine or'linanfes \\\'w pre-^eiiicd lo tin' ('.Miiieil. and the same wei'e adopted .Vjirii Is. and oi-dered pii'inttsl in the (_)weiisij(n'o S/ii'lil. Tlie tii'st thirteen of these ordiuauees provided .JUS kinds, the followiiiir 1 Digitized by Microsoft® (IWKNSBORO. 329 Tiivcrn or liDtcl $100 Ri'>tiiui mil 50 Anient s|iiri's 20 Billiaril Siilijon ppi l:ili't>, m.l i xcecd- inir i'Ao 100 Billiaul sal'Xii; in i laMi' ( xc ("liiiir tA\(i '. 50 Teii-i'in lilli-y "(i Aiiclirn lii)U-<'. ... -"ill Auctiiin on streets $20 PccUllinjr 30 Roaf selling merchanclisfi. . . 50 Circi'S, Museum or Menagerie per dHV 100 TlirHl rical performances each 10 ToIkkto s'eniminLf 25to5(J Hauling for i>rolii 5 Amoiiy till' otlicr oriliiianccs wasonein regard totlie observance of the Sal-.batli (to this (hiv Owoiisbdro i.s note 1 for the strict com- pliaiice with the huv on tliis .-^uhjcct, no stores being open on Sunday, even for an hour), discharging fii'c-arms. riot, disturbing religious worsliip, dog-fights, disturbing good order, lighting ani- mals, riding fast, hitching on streets, exhibiting stallion or jack, nuisances, rubbish on streets. obst!'uction of streets, driving ani- mals on pavement, obstructing sewer pipes, curbing, bathing in Ohio River, city scales, wharf, tl-rrv-man, wharfmaster, wharf- boat, freight, wharf boat rates, swearing on streets, contagious diseases, selling unwholesome flesh as food, shade trees, concealed weapons, gaming fines recoverable, city judge, marshal's report, and taxing of dogs. By the organization of the Council and the adoption of these ordinances the machinery of city government was fairly set in motion, and Owensboro became a city in fact as well as in name. The seal of the city of Owensboro was adopted April 18, 1866, and bears upon it the words, "The City of Owensboro Seal," and the figure of a tobacco leaf. The first Mayor of Owensboro never ])resided over the delibera- tions of the Council. Shortly after the lirst meeting at which he was sworn in, Mayor E. S. Ayres was taken ill, and died in less than a week. The following ap()ropriate testimonial was adopted by the Council April IS: "Wherkas, An inscrutalile Providence in his wisdom has re- moveil by death our esteemed fellow-citizen, Captain E. S. Ayers, recently elected to the office of Maj^or of this city, and who was therefore the presiding officer of this body, therefore be it " Resolved, That in the death of said Ayers the community has lost a useful citizen, who, by his affable manners and correct deportment had endeared himself to the hearts of all, and this Council an able and efficient presiding officer and member, and that we deeply deplore his loss and hereby tender to his bereaved family our warmest sympathies. Digitized by Microsoft® 330 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. " Resolved, That we will in a buily attend his funeral, as a further testimony of our respoct for his memory. ^'■Resolved, Tiiat the citizens be requested to suspend all business, vith closed doors, from 10 to 12 o'clock to-morrow, darin<^ the funeral ceremony. •' Resjlved, That the clerk of this Council present a copy of the fore- going preamble and resolutions to the wife of the deceased, and that the papers of the cit)' be requested to publish them." Salaries, etc. — The charter in ibrce previous to 1S82 allowed the city officials to vote themselves " back pay," which generally was justifiable, owing to increasing responsibilities coininensurate with the increasing growth of the city. Some complaints being made, however, in 1374 the following facts were developed: 1859, the Board of Trustees received $25 for their services; 1860, they in- creased the compensation of the chairman; 1861, pay of the clerk and aUorney increased; 18i)2-'3, pay of the treasurer increased to $75 and $50 for the respective years; 18G5, compensation of the councilmen doubled; l'^66, same increased to $150, and the mayor's to $300; 1869, that of the clerk, treasurer and attorney increased; 1871, mayor received $100 addition il tolas usual allow- ance; 1872, he received $700. Present Charter. —By act of the Legislature approved March 18, 1882, a new charter was granted the city, with the foregoing defect remedied, among several others. Tiiis charter, with the ordinances, is printed in pamphlet form, making eighty duodecimo pages, and can be obtaifted by any citizen from the city clerk. The first section of the charter describes the city limits, which had been enlarged in a southerly direction in 1872. OWENSBOEO IN 1872. Owensboro in 1872 had a population of about 8,000, and was one of three principal cities on either side of the Ohio River between Louisville and Ciuro. The city then had thirty-one lawj'ers, fifteen physicians, nine ministers of the gospel, three dentists, six drug stores, six express wagons, fifteen drays, twenty- five groceries, sixteen dry-goods stores, ten merchant tailors, two boot and shoe stores, one qneen's-ware store, one carpet store, two 'tinware and stove establishments, three hardware stores, three [bakeries, eleven confectioneries, two book and stationery stores ]tivi>, barber shops, six meat and vegetable shops, six millinery (stores, two furniture stores, two gunsmiths, two photograiihers Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 331 three jewelry establishments, thirty-five liquor saloons, six beer saloons, ten livery stables, three tobacconists and cigar-makers, three undertakers, nine shoemakers, seven clothing houses, four saddlers, eight blacksmiths and wagon-makers, one hide and fur house, one dye-house and one real estate agent. Also fifteen large tobacco stemmeries employing over 600 hands, two large planing-mills, one woolen-mill, one foundry, one broom- factory, two extensive breweries, three corn and wheat mills, one apple-brandy distillery, four brick mills, one marble yard, three banks, seven wholesale liquor-dealers, one sewing-machine estab- lishment, six hotels, one furniture factory, a city hall, skating rink, two brass bands, two large public schools, three private schools) nine good church buildings, six large distilleries, a splendid court- house, with town clock, a securejail, two large wharf-boats, a good levee, public scales, gas-works, and lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Temperance, Harigari, etc. , etc. OWENSBORO m 1882 is shown by the good directory published by Emerson & Williams, in which the items are so differently taken that an exact comparison with 1872 cannot well be made; but it is certain that while the population has increased to about 11,600, or forty per cent., business and improvements have gone forward with equal pace. The taxable property of Owensboro in 1872 was listed by the city assessor as follows: Within the old city boundary, $2,121,- 585; within the addition, $181,915; property of negroes, $13,495; total value of property, $2,317,025. The property in the addition was listed separately because it was annexed to the city on condi- tion that it should not share the railroad debt and some other responiibilities, and tliat of the colored people on account of their separate scIdoI interests. The assessment this year (1872) within the old city boundaries showed an increase of over $104,000 in excess of the pi'cvious year subject to taxation. Some other statistics of this year were also published; but when we see that the whole negro population U ciiai-g>3d, in the item of dogs, with owning only eleven of thein, we are in doubt as to the value of the rest of figures. One of the freaks of the census! Aug. 7, 1880, a proposition was voted on, .329 to 32, to issue bonds to the amount of $50,000, for as much money to be ex- pended in general iniiii-ovements, namoly: $20,000 for graveling and guttering the £8ig»^cfi9tl>i/WA&'olso#®3wers; $10,000 for im- 332 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. proving the wharf; $5,000 for enlarging the school buildings; and $5,000 for protecting the river front. For the issue of bonds the charter required the affirmative of a majority of all the quali- fied voters of the city, and therefore the above measare did not carry. The iqDathy of the citizens was astonishing. A public meeting had been held, and rousing speeches made. Owensboro, however, is a nice city, apparently in as good a trim as any of her sisters. POPULATION. The population of Owensboro from time to time has been as fol- lows: 1830 239 1850 1,315 1860 3,308 1864 about 3,000 1870 3,430 1875 about 8,000 1880 nearly 10,000 1883 about 11,597 The United States census for 18S0 gave Owensboro only 6,231, which was evidently an error. CITY OFFICERS. 1866-'7.— Mayor, E. S. Ayres (died in office), S. D. Kennady (to fill unexpired term); City Judge, J. P. Washburn; Councihnen, James Kennady, M. D. Soyd, J. Deal, B. Bransford, George Brown and William Shelby; Clerk, C. N. S. Taylor; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, William S. Biitain; Collector, Thos. S. Hutchison; Attorney, W. N. Sweeney; Marshal, Thos. S. Hutchison; Wliarfmaster, Lafayette Elder; Weighmasters, Mur- phy and Talbot (removed), H. S. MitciicU. 1867-'8.— Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, J. P. Washburn; Couneilmen, James Kennedy, George Brown, Larkin Field, Jacob Deal, Charles Werner and John Brotlierton; Clerk, C. N. S Tay- lor; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, George ]^. McKay; Collector, Thos. S. Hutchison; Attorney, Alexander Craycrnft; Marshal, Thomas I. Hutchison; Weighmaster?, R. H. Willlioyle (removed), Pate aiid Adams; Wharfmaster, L. Elder. 1868-'9.— Mayi.r. S. D. Kennady; City Judge, J. P. Washburn; Couneilmen, George Brown, Charles Wernei-, John Brotlierton Jacob Deal, James Kennady and Jcjlin Thixton; Clerk, Ed. Aloor- man; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, T. H. Pointer; Col- lector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, T. B. Hardin; Marshal Thos. S. Hutchison; VVharfmastors, Mnrphy and Tri])lett; Weighmasters Pate and Adam^; Engineer, A. Pfuffiin; City Physician, Dr. E. H. Luckett. Digitized by Microsoft® 0WEN8B0R0. 333 1869-'70.— Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, J. P. Wash- burn; Oouncilmen, James Kennady, Jacob Deal, EUia Dawson, George Brown, John Tliixton and William McOallister; Clerk, Ed. Moorman; Treasurer, J. W. Ojleman; Assessor, William S. Britain; Collector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, Thomas Hardin; Marshal, T. S. Hutchison; Weighmaster, W. E. Moorman; Wharf- masters, Murphy andTriplett; Physician, Dr. E. H. Luckett. 1870-'l. — Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, Alexander Cray- croft; Oouncilmen, James Kennedy, R. H. Tayl )r, John G. Delker, John Thixtoii, George Smith and James A. Wilhite; Clerk, Ed. Moorman; Treasurer, J. W. Cjlemin; Assessor, C. N. S. Taylor; Collector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, T. B. Hardin; Marshal, T. S. Hutcherson; Weiglimaster, William Moorman; Whart'masters, Murphy &Triplett; Physician, Dr. E,. B. Gilbert. 1871-2.— Mayor, S. D. Kennady; City Judge, J. P. Washburn; Councilmen, John G. Delker, Y. L. Ford, Jacob Deal, George Smith, W. T. Owen and James Wilhite; Clerk, Ed. Moorman; Treasurer, J. W. Coleman; Assessor, J. H. Branham; Collector, T. S. Hutchison; Attorney, R. H. Taylor; Marshal, T. S. Hutch- ison; Weighmaster, W. E. Moorman; Wharf master, R. S. Triplett; Physician Dr. R. B. Gilbert. 1872-'3. — Mayor, Ben. Bransford; City Judge, Alexander Cray- croft; Councilmen, J. Thixton, J. Rose, William Clark, A. Cox, J. E. Dawson and C. Zuckregel; Clerk, E. B. Colgan; Treasurer, T. S. Anderson; Attorney, Thomas E. Crutcher; Assessor, Joseph Dear; Collector, W. H. Frey; Marshal, T. S. Hutcbison; Weigh- master, P. Ellis; Wharfmaster, T. W. Bacon; Piiysician, Dr. John O. Scott, succeeded by Dr. Charles H. Todd. 1873-'4. — Mayor, Ben. Bra.istbrd; City Judge, Alexander Cray- croft; Councilmen, J. Deal, C. Rucker, R. II. Taylor, E. H.Bryan, J. A. Godshaw and Dr. John D. Ogden; Clerk, H. L. Cambridge; Treasurer, P. T. Watkins; Assessor, S. D. Shepard; Attorney, L. P. Little, succeeded by R. W. Slack; Collector, A. M. C. Sim- mons; Physician, Dr. J. Q. A. Stuart; Weighmaster, P. Ellis; Wharfmaster, F. W. Bacon. 1874:-'5.— Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear; Mar- shal, Howard Long; Councilmen, Charles Rucker, James E. Daw- son, A. F. McJohnston, J. A. Godshaw, John H. Brannon and John B. Scott; Clerk, David Morton, succeeded by P. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, T.S.Anderson; Assessor, William Pottinger; Collector, Isaac Kennady; Attorney, J. W. Feighan; Weighmaster, Samuel Digitized by Microsoft® 334: HISTORY OF DAVtESS COUNTY. Morton ; Whart'master, F. W. Bacon ; Piijsician, Dr. E. H. Luckett. 1875-6.— Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear; Mar- shal, T. B. Yeager; Conncilmen, PI. P. Tompkins, S. W. Long, F. J. Clark, Charles Werner, J. B. Cruse and Charles Rucker; Clerk, Eoy R Hathaway; Treasurer, W. B. Tyler; Assessor. "W. T. Smith; Collector, J. A. Godsliaw; Attorney, J. B. Karn; Weigh- master, Samuel Morton; Wharfmaster, E. B. Trabiie; Pliysician, Dr. E. H. Luckett. 1876-'7.— Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear. 1878-'8.— Mayor, George Brown; City Judge, J. C. Dear, suc- ceeded by F. L. Beers; Marshal, T. B. Yager; Councilmen, F. J. Clark, H. P. Tompkins, A. F. McJolmston (resigned), Larkin Fields (unexpired terra), Isaac Kennady, "W. W. Hays and James Tharpe; Clerk, Eben Parden; Treasurer, W. B. Tyler, succeeded by John Wandling; Assessor, Wm. Pottinger; Collector, W. PI. Owen; Attorney, G. W. Jolly, succeeded by J. B. Karns; "Weighmaster, Samuel Morton; Wharfmaster, Bruce Trabue; Physician, Dr. E. PI. Luckett; Auditor, H. L. Cambridge. 1878-'9. — Mayor, John Thixton; City Judge, J. C. Dear; Mar- shal, T. B. Yager; Councilmen, J. B. Murphy, George Rogers, Joseph Lee, Isaac Kennady, W. W. Hays and J. A. Small; Clerk, Eben Parden; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, J.E.Mitchell; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; Collector, T. A. Fuqua; Attorney, II. P. Moorman; Weighmaster, Samuel Morton; Wharfmaster, Hamilton Alexander; Physician, Dr. C. C. Lewis. 1879-'80.— Mayor, -Thos. Thixton; City Judge, W. W. Chambers; Marshal, Howard Long; Councilmen, James Ashby, James A. Small, James K. Tharpe, George Rogers, Joseph Lee and B. Baer; Clerk, P. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, William Pottinger; Collector, T. A. Fiiqua; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; At- torney, W. T. Owen; Weighmaster, Samuel Morton; Wharfmaster, 11. Alexander; Physician, Dr. C. C. Lewis. 1880-'!.— Mayor, James K. Tharpe; City Judge, W. W. Cham- bers; Marshal, Charles Haney; Councilmen, J. A. Small, L. J. Cottrell, Charles Werner, Jos. Lee, Robert Burch and B. Baer; Clerk, Phil. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, C. R. Coffey; Collector, John W. Carter; Attorney, G. W. Jolly; J. W. Coleman, Auditor; Weighmaster, T. S. Hathaway; Wharfmas- ter, H. AlexaTider; Physician, Dr. C. C. Lewis. 1881-'2.— Mayor, James K. Tharpe; City Judge, S. D. Kennady; Marshal, Charles Haney; Councilmen, J. B. Cruse, S. H. Harrison Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 335 D. M. Griffith, J. H. Taylor, G. W. Eogers and B. Baer; Clerk, Phil. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John Wandling; Assessor, A. B. Miller; Oollector, J. W. Carter; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; Attorney, W. T. Owen; Weigh master, E. A. Hathaway; Wharfmaster. H. Alex- ander; Physician, Dr. A. A. Haynes. 1882-'3— Mayor, James K. Tharpe; City Judge J. B. Earn; Marshal, J. T. Griffith; Councihnen, J. L. Higdon, J. G. Norton, Anthony Eger, Dr. J. H. Taylor, T. J. Monarch, and A. C. Tomp- kins; Clerk, Phil. R. Zulauf; Treasurer, John T.^'andling; Assessor, William S. Pottinger; Auditor, J. W. Coleman; Collector, F.J. Clarke; Attorney, W. T. Owen; Weighmaster, T. E. AuU; Wharf- master, Ham. Alexander; Physician, Dr. T. E. Lamping. INDUSTRIAL AND OOMMEECIAL. Mention has already heen made of the first store, kept by David Morton. Carpenters and masons of course came in with the de- mands of the growing village. Among the first brick-masons remembered were Edward Lamb- din, commonly known as " Old Boss;" Joseph Weaver, about 1839; and James A. "Wilhite, since that period. The first brick-yard in Owensboro was on Allen street, between Fifth and Seventh streets, near a tan-yard pond, and was owned and operated by Joseph Wea- ver before 1839. " Old Boss" and Stelle made brick near where Henry P. Tompkins' tobacco factory now stands, on Walnut street. Afterward Wilhite had one on Fourth street. The first blacksmiths remembered by the present oldest residfints as following their trade in Owensboro were J. J. Boles (spelling of this name not ascertained), Legge and Faith. In 1846 Mr. Boles and J. Brotherton formed a partnership .in the wheelwright business, which continued until 1862, when Boles died. Prior to this, however, the German (or Dutchman) named Legge did some wheelwright work in connection with his black- smithing, near where Reinhardt's store now is. He closed in 1849. The first shoemakers in Owensboro were David Morton and Alex. Moreland. FIB8T LIVEBT-STABLES. The very first was located by Stephen Rogers on the bank of the ravine where the gas-works are now situated, and conducted by him a number of years. It was still standing in 1846, a very old structure. Digitized by Microsoft® 336 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. The second was kept by Wm. Sharpe, jailer at the time, in 1S46, where the First National Bank Building now stands. Soon after- ward Wm. C. Norris kept one where Courtney's drug store now is. Then Wm. Fielding, on the corner of Frederica and Fourth, v/here Biotherton & Son's stable is. lie sold to Geo. Murphy, he to Howard & Glenn, and they to John Brotherton, who has since been a proprietor. About the time of the last transaction. Pointer & Cummings built a stable on Third street, which was afterward kept by Cum- mings, and owned by Burgess. TOBACCO HOUSES. The first tobacco warehouse in Owensboro was built by James M. Rogers, of logs, about 1837. It was forty feet wide by one hundred long. Soon after it was built it was sold to Peter F. Smith. In 1839 it was burned, and on the site a frame house was built. Hugh Kerr & Co. — The second tobacco warehouse was a frame, built in 1838 by John 0. Hobsou, Frederick and Wm. 11. Brans- ford, all of Richmond, Ya. Wm. 11. Bransford came to Daviess County in the spring of 1838 and superintended the building of the factory. It was 50 x 150, two stories high, with a shed of twenty-five feet at each end and a shed of the same width alons one side, making the ground floor 75 x 200, with a capacity of 1,000,000 pounds. Tliis institution was conducted b^^ tlie firm of W. II. Bransford & Co. for five years, when Mr. B. died. The factory was then I'enteil for two years, when it was sold to Hugh Kerr & Co., of Henderson, Ky., who ran it until 1850. It was burned down April 5, that year, with 800,000 pounds of tobacco in it; but a portion of it was s.ived in a more or less damaged con- dition. In the fall of 1850 the same company erected tlie factory now standing between Clay and Bolivar streets. It is two liundrcd feet long, fifty feet wide, four storii-s liigh, with a sliedon tlie south side twenty-five feet wide, and a warehouse 100 x 50 and two stories high. Cip-icity, l,5iJ0,000 })oiinds. Rohcrt Du)d'ip^ Jr. — The fourth tobacco liou^ic in Owensboro was built in 185:^ by John A. Dunlop, at a cost of $8,000, includ- ing the house and grounds. Sizo ofbuihiing 150 x fiO, not counting the packing-room, which ia 150 x 25 feet, one story higii. The main building is three stories and basement. The warehouse is Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 337 100 X 60 feet, two and a half stories high, located on the corner of Fourth and Triplett streets. Its capacity is 350 hogsheads, or 1,500,000 poi;nds per year, although tlie business does not justify working to its full capacity. At the decease of John A., Robert Dunlop, Jr., son of David Dunlop, of Petersburg, bought and still runs the factory. Frayzer c5 Bro. — B. Bransford & Co. built the fiftli factory, on Elizabeth street, corner of First or River street. In 1S56 the company bought this of the Triplett estate, and remodeled and added to the old building, giving it a size 125 x 176 feet, two stories high, with a capacity of about 600,000 pounds. In a few years the firfn added 75 x 50 feet to the building, giving to the whole a capacity of 800,000 pounds. This pai-tnership was dissolved in 1862, and the business continued under the name of B. Brans- ford until 1873, wlien Mr. B. sold to Frayzer & Bro., who are now conducting the business. Leo Sims, or FaulcP >< F actory . — ^This building was put up by Leo Sims in 1857, and the L's were built by John Faulds in 1878, and main building remodeled. Original cost of building, $10,500; additions, $6,000. Capacity, 800,000 pounds. Sawyer tfc Brodle. — This house was built in 1870 by James Saw- yer and Robert Brodie; size 125 \ 40 feet, two stories and base- ment. In is7;i they built an addition of 100 x40 feet, two stories and basement. Tlie cost of tiie entire liouse was about $12,000; capacity, 800,000 ponnds, although in 1880 they put up 1,000,000 pounds. Tlie building is situated on the corner of Triplett and Fifth streets. Most of the tobacco is shipped to England. Most seasons tiioy have run full capacity. A. C. Tompkins. — The building now occupied by this gentleman was built by Burbank Hi'os. in 1S75, and the tobacco trade con- ducted by tlu in tlierein twr) seasons. It was then rented to C!am])- bell & Co., ami subsequently purchased by Mr. Tompkins, who has held the place ever since. The building is 60 x ISO feet and four stories high; caiiacity, 1,200,000 pounds. The main building C'>st §13.500, iuid is the largest in town. II. P TomiiVin^i' tobacco factory was built by \ C. & IT. P Tompkins in 1S75, and is now owned by tin; last mentioned, who bought his brother's interest, in 1S77. It is 4+ x loO feet, four stories high, and has a capacity of 750,000 pfjunds. Ii is located at rhe corner of Third and Walnut streets. The waiehouse is '2'i X 120, two stories bnck. and two frame. .,„ Digitized by Microsoft® iriSTORV OF DAVIESS COCNTY. p. ./. Miller's tobacco liouso wiis established about ISTl, by Benjaniiii Shown, for re-liaiidling tobacco. Size of buililiiiij; 00 x 40 fi'ut, two stories and basement. In 1S74- it was jmi-ciiased by Mr. Miller, who made improvements and nsed the house' for stemming to1)acc'o. In 1MT5 he built a larc^e adtlition to the old building, 140 X ])ounds. Cost of building, including con- tents, about SlCOOO. In connection with this liouse, Mr. Miller has a house on his farn; six miles oast of Owensboro, which has been used for tobacco since 1S58 or 1S5'.'; a\-erage cajKicitv, 15,000 pounds. He first built a small house, and has made numerous additions from time to time. The building is low, but covers con- siderable ground. Tobacco shipped to Londmi and Jjiverjiool. J. II. Barrett ct Co. — This house cominencetl operations in 1838 under the name of A. B. Uarrett. Mr. B. died in 180^. He was one of the best business men the country ever produced. His estate was worth over $3,000,000. The property was then dee x 40 feet, two stories and basement, and the average -amoiint of tobacco handled is 300,000 to 400,000 pounds. S. V. \\'allaoe.-'-T]\\f, gentleman built a tobacco Ixmse in the fall -A I'^Tu, at a cost of ?2.000; size 130x.")4 feet, three stories and 'ri=eM!ent. Connected with this building is a store-room Digitized by Microsoft® owrz;esBOEo. 339 120 X 50 feet, one story; capacity 1,000,000 pounds. The house has eight prize screws for prizing, latest improved, known as the ratcliet screw. The tobacco is shipped largely to foreign markets. Thi'" house ran under the management of Mr. Harris until the fall of 1875, when he went to Louisville and engaged in business there. In January, 1876, J. A. Fuqua managed the house. In 1878 S. V. Wallace took the management, and has continued it ever since. The building is located on the corner of First and Daviess streets. W. H. Clan-he, & Go. — This factory is situated on McFarland street, between Fredericaaud Locust streets, and was erected in 1876 by the present firm. It is 130 x 41 feet, three stories high, with warehouse and shop attached; capacity, 500,000 pounds. The firm consists of William H. Clarke and Edward II. Clarke & Son. Hamilton da Co. — This tobacco house was built in 1859 by David Hamilton, from Glasgow, Scotland, who was in business here twenty years. Caleb Snyder did the work upon the building, and Mr. Hamilton controlled it until 1878, when he went to Louisville, holding an interest in the business, however, until 1882. In 1878 Geo. N. Thompson became a partner of Mr. Hamilton, and in 1882 purchased the whole interest. The business is now conducted under the firm name of Hamilton & Co. This firm has done a very large business in the tobacco trade, the liouse having a capac- ity of 1,01)0,000 pounds a year. John J. Miller's tobacco house was built in 1877 by J. F. Rice and Walter Gowan, under the firm name of Rice & Gowan, who did a light business one season. The following year it was (occu- pied by Aaron Rosenield, and in two years more by Norris Ford and John Burnett, who rented of J. T. Miller, the latter h; ■■";^ ])urchaaed the property in 1S79. In 1880 Jolm A. Miller rented the jiroperty of J. T. Miller, and has conducted the business ever siTiee, although it has jiassed into the hands of P. J. Miller, who now owns the house. The size of tlic buildiiig is 100 x ('i6 feet, two stiiries and [jaseniuiit; cajiacity inmi seventy-five to eighty hogs- heads (>f tobacco. It is located on Hathaway street, between Fifth aiid Si.xtli. In !8si Mr. Miller ]jut n[) 2o8, 000 jiounds of tul.acco. Tvrjiin- Ii;s> C'llXTV. Hugh Ki-rr ck C'>. (AUmi (iilmoici \. — Stcminory, southwest corner (if Second and Bulivar tstreeti^; erected about 1S50. Size of main iMiildiui^ at iireseiit, 50 x 200 t'cH and four stories liigh. A. slicd twenty-five feet wide is attached, aTid there is a warehouse 50 X 10 feet in cuniu^otion witli the above. Henry Ki-i'r 'S: ^ 'o. '.s' tobacco house is located at the northeast corner of Second aiid Locust streets, and has a capacity of 300 ho^.-^heads. [t was formerly occ\i]Med by Aaron llosenfeld, then by Henry Ivei'r, and lastly by the y>re.,i'nL tinn. F . J. Uhirke and J. II. Tli.ckm/in liave just formed a partnership (February, Iss;;) and are buyine; and receiving tobacco at the Mc0^dlister Factory, southeast corner of St. ^Vnn and Front streets. FiKjiic, i.^ ^*?»^^V^'.s' jiouse is at the southwest corner of McFar- land and Allen streets. Thamdfi i& John RekVs establishment is at the southwest corner of Triplett and Fourth streets. lielnhardt <& Maries' factory was established in ls76. It is situated at the east end of Fourth street, and is a four-story building, 40 x 130, with a one-story L, 100 feet long. They have the capacity to handle 600,000 pounds per year, and ship large quantities to England. After the tobacco is stemmed and packed in hogsheads it is ex- ported to London and Liverpool — the low grades to Germany — through commission merchants. The average product in 183S was about 1,500,000 pounds, from which tliere was a gradual increase np to 8,000,000 pounds in 1S50, and 12,000,000 pounds before the war. Since that time it has remained about stationary. A fac- tor} ,.f SOn.OOO jtouude employs forty to fifty hands. The season for business oi)cns in November or early wititer, and closes about midsummer. There ai'e, therefore, about nine months to work and pack. niSTir.LKRIKS. The nmnufaeturo ot intoxicating li(|uors by methods of distilla- tion doos not seem to have been understood by tlie antnents. It is said to havi! been Mi-st invented by the barbai-ian nations of the North of Kuroiio. annSj!, Macliiiiery was pm-chased and operation begun 1st January, ISS:'.; cM]ntal -took, $:'>n.00(). Jiihn R. Oshoriic <( Son'n /*''''/;,///(/- J/ ^7/ was built in January, ly"."!, by Thornton A' Osborne. i May, l87.o, Thornton sold to J. R. 0>bi)rne & Son, who have since conducted it. The value of mill and property, including machinei-y, about $.5,000. Located cin-ner of 7th and Ilailroatl streets. They manufacture sash, doors, blinds, moldings, frames, cornice and stair work, counters, man- tles, i)rackets, etc. Trade extends n\-er county and Southern Ken tuckv. Have also a saw -miU at Livennore, McLean Co., Ky. ; value, $l'.5')0. It was erected in Issij. run in connection with mill, preparing loirs ibr mill. Xl their planing-mill they supply the distilleries ■>v'th material tbr whisky tanks, fermentors, water tanks, stills, mash tri)Ughing, blow-pii)es, etc. This is the oldest firm in citv in tliis business. Their trade has doubled each year since they commenced. They turn out only first-class work, for which they have a large reputatii.n. During the fall monlhs of 1^81 they were runnirig day and night on distillery work, when the distilleries were running to their ful capacity. They ship a gre it deal of wal- nut and other lumber. Owing to their iiicn.ased trade they cr,i.-iA Cotiip'inlcs- — R. R. Hathaway, next door south of tlie National Bank, is agent for both the .\dams and the Southern Ex- press Companies. V'hWip'i Bi'OH. (fi McAfei, Dnj Go'tds, Motions and General Store. Tins house was bnilt tlic suiiinicr (;f 1S81, at a cost of «i->() 000. The ruom fruntin:;- Main sti-c^et is 47^ x lOO feet; the ;;om fronting on H-^i^fe^^^ A^/»oM'^^'^:/'''''?'^ stories; eel. lar full size of building; nvuT , water-])ri)or; cellar is cemented. 360 HISTOET OF DAVIESS OOITNTT. The first floor fronting on Main street is used for dry goods, no- tions, boots and shoes; the portion that fronts on Daviess street is used for groceries. That part of the second floor that fronts on Main street is used for clothing, carpets, window-shades, trunks, etc.; the second floor on Daviess street, for queen's-ware and millinery. Third floor front ot building is the wholesale depart- ment, and third floor fronting Daviess street is used for farming implements of every description. The house is arranged with all modern improvements. Yearly sales are over $150,000. Trade extends to all the surrounding country and Southern Indiana. Phillips Brothers reside in Lebanon, Ky. , and the house is under the immediate supervision of T. W. McAtee. Citizens' Building cmd Loan Association. — This was organized in the summer of 1872, under the general law, to enable its mem- bers the more easily to erect buildings in the city of Owensboro. It was governed by a board of directors. The capital stock was formed by subscribed shares of $1 weekly payments. Any share- holder, by giving real-estate security, could borrow of the capital fund thus created a sufficient amount to aid him in the construction of a dwelling at a fair rate of interest and on a long credit. First officers: R. H. Taylor, President; Jo. Thomas, Secretary; P. T. Watkins, Treasurer; and J. W. Feighan, Attorney. Present offi- cers: "W". T. Owens, President; E. S. Hughes, Secretary; J. H. Mc- Henry, Attorney. The association is inactive at present, but in former times it has done a great deal of good. Mechanics' Savings Association. — This was organized some time after the foregoing, for similar purposes; but it has not accom- plished much. Peoples' Wharf-Boat and Transfer Company was organized about 1869, the incorporators being E. S. Hughes, John S. Wool- folk, John B. Scott and J. D. Powers. The object of the company is the transportation of freight and passengers, by either rail or river, to any point. They have a good wharf-boat here. Capital, $25,000. The present stockholders are: E. S. Hughes, Hamilton Alexander and J. D. Powers. The latter has always been Presi- dent of the corporation. Mr. Hughes is Secretary and Treasurer. The Owensboro and Rochport Tromsfer Company., consisting ot J. H. Cox, E. Monarch and J. H. Triplett, was incorporated Dec. 29, 1882, for twenty-five years, " to build, buy and sell steamboats, machinery, barges and wharf-boats, and use and navigate the same for the transportation and forwarding of freight and passengers be- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 35] tween Owensboro, Ky., and Eockport, Ind., or anywhere else ie- sired, and all other purposes for which steamboats and barges and wharf-boats are adapted or used." Capital stock, $2,300, in scares of $50. Commenced business Feb. 1, 1883. Have a large A^harf- boat at Owensboro. Run the II. M. Sweetser at present, mainly between Owensboro and Eockport, three trips a day. John H. Triplett, Jr., Agent. Steam Ferry Company. — This company was formed in June, 1882, as a stock company. President, T. S. Anderson ; Secretary and Treasurer, E. L. Courtney. They run a very large, nice ferry- boat, charging teamsters only two fifths of what the law allows. This is the first steam ferry ever run at this point, the boats hereto- fore having always been run by hand. Owensboro Water Company. — This company was incorporated Sept. 9, 1878, for twentj'-five years, and consisted of Dennis Long, of Louisville, John G. Barrett, Donald McPlierson and Samuel A. Miller. Authorized capital stock, i?SO,0(»0, and a board of seven directors to control, who are elected annually on the second Monday in September. Mr. Long proposed to the city council to erect the works on the Holly system, on condition that the city would take fifty-five fire plugs at $75 each per year. This proposition was accepted, and the contract for building the works was awarded to Coverdale & Cowell, of Cincinnati, who completed them by the following July. Two engines and two pumps were placed in the establishment, with a capacity of 2,.-)00,0(i!i galloi-.s daily. The engines have cylinders twenty-five inches in diar etei by tliirty inches stroke, and are eighty lioi-se-]iower. Tlie .iimps, which are located at the bottom of a .sliaft thirty- thre, .eet doej:) are fourteen inches in diameter by thirty iiu'hcs stroke There are two boilers, sixteen feet by five feet eacli, with fifty-^'.-inr three ai^d a half inch tubes, set separately, so that either or 'xith can be us;id at pleasure. The buildings are substantially built of bi'ick. with stone trim miners. The smoke stack i^ bovency-five foot iiigh. Au"-. 11, 1880, a boiler exploded, half ruining tlie water work^ Cause unknown. The present officers are: De7inis Long, Pro^idont; 11. II. ITutc'ii- son. Secretary and Treasurer, bothref^idents orLwui-ivill". The (Gen- eral Manager is Samuel ^_ Miller, and Henry P. Martin, Super- intendent, succeeding J. M. Carson, Dcconihor, l-^Sii. The avurage amount of water consulted per week is about I'jOOO.nOO galloTis; Digitized by Microsoft® 'qS2 HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS COITNTT, h\^. when all the distilleries are running, -as high as 2,500,000 gallons have been raised by the works. B'hmh Electric Light omd Power Company. — This also is an incorp. rated stock company, organized in October, 1882. W. F. Eeinhardt, President; Joseph Lee, Treasurer, and J. W. Porter, Secretary and Manager. The other incorporators are John Rein- hardt, Geo. "W. Jolly, T. J. Higgins. Capital, $5,000, in shares at $100, all taken. The company start out by using a sixteen-light dynamo, each light of 2,000 candle-power. The engine-power is rented of J. G. Delker. Up to date about $4,000 have been ex- pended in the enterprise, and at present there are thirteen sub- scribers. Telephone. — In the spring of 1880 J. W. Porter organized the " Owensboro Telephone Exchange." The incorporators were Geo. W. Williams, M. V. Monarch, T. J. Monarch, and J. W. Porter. M. V. Monarch was elected President; Breck. Speed, Secretary and Treasurer, and Mr. Porter, Superintendent. They immediately put up lines and commenced operations, connecting with Henderson and Evansville, and ran under this regime until May, 1882, when they sold out to the Evansville Telephone Exchange, which has eight or ten counties. There are 113 patrons in Owensbdfo. T^he central ofBce is on St. Ann street, opposite the east door ot ne court-house. City Hall. — This building was formerly the "Bransford Insti- t^:ite" (see further on, under the head of Educational), and was pnrve- aient for the establishment of one was inaugurated in 1882, by fifteen men, who proposed to put in $1,000 each for the object. A donation of eight acres of land, however, was asked, and a subscription stock to the amount of $60,000. The chief operators of this scheme were parties from abroad, and not being exactly the men for the place, the proposed enterprise "fell through. " BANKS. First National. — This is the newest by name but the oldest in business, of all the banks in the city. The first bank in Owensboro was a branch of the " Southern Bank of Kentucky, " and was es- tablished here Aug. 5, 1850, with the following Directors: Wm. Bell, Simpson Stint, Christopher D.Jackson, Junius B. Alexander, Samuel M. Wing, James H. Blair, Wm. T. Short, S. M. Moorman and Philip Triplett. Aug. 12 following Mr. Alexander was chosen President and James B. Anderson, Cashier. The principal bank was at Louisville, and was a State bank of issue. In June, 1853, Mr. Alexander resigned his presidency, and was succeeded by Wm. Bell. He moved to Louisville, thence to St. Louis, and during the war moved to New York. In all these places he followed banking, made a fortune in New York, retired, and now lives on Staten Island, N. Y. In 1855 Wm. Bell was succeeded as President by S. M. Wing. April 1, 1864, the institution was changed to the " Planters' Bank of Kentucky. " Mr. Anderson died in October, 1864, and his son, T. S. Anderson, was chosen as Cashier in his place. May 24, 1870, Mr. Wing resigned, and Daniel M. GriflSth was chosen Presi- dent in his place. Sept. 1,1871, T. S. Anderson resigned, and Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 355 Phil T. Watkins succeeded as Cashier. March 6, 1872, Mr. Grif- fith resigned as President, and R. II, Taylor was appointed in his place. Messrs. Taylor and Watkins still retain the positions last named. Joseph Thomas is Teller. Nov. 1, 1881, the bank was converted into the " First National Bankof Owensboro, Ky." Capital, $137,900. Present Directors: E. H. Taylor, J. D. Powers, E. H. Luckett, A. J. Turpin, A. Eosenfeld, James H. Hickman and M. V. Monarch. Deposit Banh.—Th\& was established Oct. 1, 1860, with a capital of $50,000, since increased to $200,000. Hon. Thos. C. McCreery was President from the commencement to Feb. 17, 1864 since which date Mr. James Weir has had that position. W. B. Tyler was Cashier from the first to the time of his death, Dec. 4, 1877 since which time John Wandling has fulfilled the place. Present Directors: Wm. N. Sweeney, Ben. Bransford and F. T. Gunther. John H. Smith, just deceased, leaves a vacancy on this board not yet filled. Following was the condition of this bank Dec. 30, 1882: RESOtTRCBS. Bills and notes discounted. $444,160.76 Debts in suit 3,236.51 Real estate (for debt) 13,662.83 Stocks and bonds 34,000.00 Banking House 8,000.00 Safes and office furniture. . . 2,000.00 Revenue Stamps 175.00 Due from banks 39,850.01 Cash 38,686.33 $588,771.43 LIABILITIES. Capital stock $200,000.00 Deposits 269,776.38 Bills re-discounted 98,923.00 Dividends unpaid 100.00 Dividend No. 41 5 per cent. 10,000.00 Due banks 2,459.91 Balance of contingent fund . 2,512.14 $583,771.43 ^■Owensboro Savings Bank. — This institution was chartered by the Legislature in January, 1871, and began business Feb. 17 fol- lowing, in the room next door to the postoffice, on St. Ann street. While cashier of the Planters' Bank, of this city, Mr. T. S. Ander- son, now President of the Savings Bank, saw the necessity of a bank that would meet the wants of all, and he and his brother, W. K. Anderson, conceived the idea of establishing such an institution in Owensboro. Their business so increased that their old quarters began to be too small; and they built, at the northwest corner of Main and Allen streets, one of the finest bank and office buildings in all the West, which they now occupy. The charter of this bank makes all the private property of its stockholders, in addition to the capital and surplus, liable for its corporate debts — the best guarantee of its safe management, and one that is offered by no other bank in this city. James H. Parrish is Cashier. Digitized by Microsoft® 356 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COXTNTT. Following is a statement of the condition of this bank at the close of business Dec. 30, 1882: BBSOUUCBS. Discounted paper $246,424.67 Rfial estate for debt 4,560.79 Bouds and stocks 19,975.00 Banking house 14,082.53 Bank fixtures aud furniture. 2,51 3.65 Due by banks 44,079.23 Cast 31,053.22 LIABILITIES. Capital stock.. .$25,000.00 Surplus fund... 20,000.00— 45.000.00 Deposits 317,689.09 Total $363,689.09 Total $362,689.09 Farmers & Traders' BanJe. — This is situated on the north side of Main street, six doors east of Bolivar. L. Gray is President; A. J. Mitchell, Vice-President, and Wm. H. Moore, Cashier. This bank was opened for business 'Sov. 16, 1876, at the above place. The first Directors were: Dr. A. D. Hill, President; L. Gray, Yice- President; A. J. Mitchell, J. B. Cruse and W. T. Elliott. E. B. Colgan, Cashier. The corporation was organized as a stock com- pany. Dr. Hill died Dec. 20, 1877, and L. Gray was elected President in his place. Mr. Colgan died Aug. 18, 1877, and Wm. H. Moore was appointed Cashier in his place, which position he still holds. Following is their last semi-annual statement, which shows the present condition of the bank, Dec. 30, 1882: BBSOURCES. Bills and notes discounted. .$110,465.08 Due from banks 11,663.39 Cash on hand 12,034.04 Debts in suit 772,00 Furniture and fixtures 1,326.33 Protest account 12.83 $136,373.68 LIABILITIES. Capital stock paid up $33,000.00 Due depositors 90,918.23 Dividends unpaid 195.00 Dividend No. 12 this day de- clared , 1,600.00 Amount due as interest to Jan. 1 944.20 Profit and loss account 10,606.25 $136,273.68 HOTELS. Planters' Hotel. — This is the only first-class hotel in Owensboro. Its most ancient predecessor had the same name. It was the first hotel in the city, a frame building, erected by Timothy Bur- gess. In the process of time, a more commodious edifice becom- ing necessary, this was moved to the rear of the lot to be occupied by colored servants, while on the old site was put up a handsome two-story hotel, which is a part of the present block. It has been niised one story and wings added. Mr. Burgess sold the building Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSIJOKO. 357 aiiont 18V5. lie died in InTT), aged seveiity-aine, and considered one of the AeuUhiLst men ii! Daviess County. Mr. Flonmiiiio- was the ne\t proprietor of the building, and the ne.xt and prose;it (iwiier is Dr. J. F. Iviinblej. The Washiiirm Hoii.^e, now kojit by tlie proprietorw of the Plant- ers', was builtia 1877, by Daniel M. GrifKth, who rented it to IJ. T. Wasbtuiriie, and the latter admitted to partnersliip Geo. I). Mattingly. Afterward he sold his interest to Alex. Moreland, and the tirm became Mattingly & Moreland, the present proprietors of both buildings. The Washburne building in 1878 was sold to Mrs. M. L. Crockett, wife of Americus Crockett, of Louisville. It stands on the site formerly occupied by a grocery, which had been pre- viously the Southern Bank, and the Planters' Bank. The first story is 22 x 134, and the second and tliird stories are 44 feet in width. The proprietors of the business of the Planters' Hotel have been Mr. Hathaway, J. C. Ashby, 0. H. Hughes, James F. Smith and now Matting]}' & Moreland. The two buildings contain sixty-five furnished rooms. Tran sient rates, $2 a day. About 90 to 100 is the average daily number taking meals at this house. The Planters' House has had a long and eventful history, and the noteworthy instances occuring in connection with it may be numbered by hundreds. The following comes to hand: In 1875, when the " civil rights " law prominently occupied public attention, and Mr. Hathaway was conducting the above institution, a negro presented himself one day for accommodations, under the aforesaid law concerning hotels. Mr. H. refused him on the ground tiiat " this was not a ' hotel.' but a private boarding house." Spoern's Hotel. — This is located on the northeast corner of Second and Elizabeth streets which is only a square from the wharf. John Spoerri, proprietor. Monitor Hotel is on the west side. of Frederica street, only half a square from the boat landing. J. 11. McCullough, proprietor. Palmer Hmnc, east side of Frederica, about opposite the last. Thomas Palmer, proprietor. BrooM Hotel, west side of Frederica street, between Third and Fourth streets. F. W. Brooks, proprietor. Neal Home, northwest corner of Second and Pearl streets, or about four sc^uares east of the depot. Digitized by Microsoft® 35 s HISTORY OF DAVIESS OUXT"S'. OWENSUORO INDUSTRIES IN 18^0, I!Y THE CT:NSUS. ! CAJ'ITAl,. WAGES D(JKi:S(> 'i IJlacksiaiitirt 1 BtdSpriugs 3 Bakery and Confec'y- • ■ 11 Carpeuters 1 Carriage Works 1 Cigar-Maker 6 Coopers 1 Foundry and Macli 1 Horse-Shoer 1 Gas Works 1 Mattress- Makpr 2 Publishers and Printers 4 Painters and Glaziers.. . 1 PlumbinK and Fitting. . 3 Planing Mills 2 Shingle Works 5 Saddle and Harness. . . . 1 Sheet Metal Work 3 Tinners 1 Merchant Tailor 2 Wagon-Makers 1 Blacksmith and Wagon. 1 Marble Works 1 Wool Carder 17 Tobacco Factories 5 Boots and Shoes 1 Tannery 1 Agric'l Implements 3 Fiour Mills 3 Meat Packers 3 Brick Yards $ 850 1,3U0 8,000 5,940 3,000 2,000 4,300 8,000 100 23,000 1,000 8,100 1,775 3,000 70,500 700 7,700 1,000 4,900 4,000 400 300 1,500 475 498,158 2,400 2,000 7,500 39,000 2,400 3,150 PA IT) v'il. VAI- O P MATEKIA 1,7:^6 $ 1,484 l,;5.i3 1,000 2,150 9,500 9,832 30,900 2,000 4,000 1,248 800 9,720 3,140 4,800 7,500 1,100 500 2,300 2,000 800 1,200 3,500 2,850 5,700 11,300 1,500 2,800 21,548 50,923 1,250 1,600 3,006 11,400 3,600 7,000 4,575 7 300 1,560 4,000 1,137 662 1,000 1,000 6,000 3,000 408 816 55,606 440 5!29 4,785 5,632 2,600 12,600 8,120 3,750 7,957 92,028 1,000 12,580 4,093 2,695 VA L. OF I'llODUCr. )p 3,8 ( ^' 5,000 15,900 53,025 7,500 3,500 26,575 14,000 1,700 7,000 2,500 8,400 19 400 2,500 88,346 3,100 21.600 12,000 13 500 7,500 2,400 3,000 10,000 1,500 537 445 12 032 25,007 8.778 125,340 18,068 11,000 Properly to interpret the above, the usual allowance for the sin- gular, freakish defects of the census must be made. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTEE XVI. 0WEN8B0R0, CONTINUED. EDUCATIONAL. Daviess County Seminary. — The oldest school building in Owensboro is the southernmost brick structure of what is now the Upper "Ward School. It was erected by Philip Thompson, in consideration of which a number of town lots were deeded to him by the trustees. The ground on which this house was built was originally donated to the town for school purposes. The institution was chartered about 1820. The most eminent teacher here in early day was probably George Scarborough, a relative of P. T. "Watkins and a native of Massachusetts. He taught school in this place about 1830 to 1840. On leaving here he sold a large collection of geo- logical specimens to parties m this place, for use in the public schools. He went to Kansas, and from there to ITew Jersey, where he at a recent date was still residing. Owensboro Academy. — This was started in the old Daviess County Seminary building about 1853, by Professor H. P. Hart, assisted by Mr.Palmer. This was one of the best schools Owensboro ever had. After a few years Professor Hart was succeeded by H. M. Woodruff, who subsequently edited the Owensboro Monitor; and in 1857 Malcolm Mclntyre was employed as assistant. Profes- sor Burke was instructor of languages; Professor Halbey, of music; and for a time Mrs. Lillie Singleton had charge of the female department. Geo. L. Reinhardt was also assistant for a time. Profs. Hart and Woodruff erected the second brick building joining north of the original one. The great war put a stop to this school. Many prominent and talented men have been educated at this academy, among them Riee E. Graves, who was afterward educated at West Point, went into the Confederate army and was killed at Chickamauga; John 0. Pegram; Amos R.Taylor, a lawyer of St. Louis ; E. Rumsey Wing, Minister to Equador; Weir Wing, Lawrence Raid, Lemuel and Estill McHenry, Samuel Morton and others. Professor Hart went to Texas in 1872 or '3 and died there. His widow is now teaching (8593 Digitized by Microsoft® 860 Hlf-TORV OF IIAVIESS OOUNTT. in the i)ul)lii'. bcii"i>;s nt (>\vi'n.-boro. Mr. Mclntyre is still here, in the revenue coliecrni-V otiicc. During the war tlii- ii.stitiition of learning flourished in Owens- boro, under the j)rinciprd^ir[p of Colonel JoIiti II. Allen of Mary- land, a graduate of West Point Military Academy and an intelligent Christian teacher ot eighteen years' experience. All the branches of a collegiate course were taught in this academy, including military drill. Trustees: S. M. AVing, President; W.B.Tyler, B. Bransford. D. M. GritEth, J. [I. Branham, R. M. Hathaway and G. 11. Yeaman. School was kept in this building generally about ten montha in the year during its long history. Directly after the war the Baptists proposed to establish a col- lege in Owensboro, with a charter. Accordingl}', Feb. 13, lS66,an act of the Legislature was approved, authorizing the following Board of Trustees, in behalf of the " Central Baptist Educational Society," to occupy the aforesaid property: Dr. J. F. Kimbley, C- K. Moorman, W. B. Tyler, J. M. Dawson, Rev. J. C. Maple, J. N. Peay, and Dr. Joseph Otis. This board was authorized to confer all literary degrees, as in the best institutions of learning. Thus they obtained the premises, on condition that they would erect another building at a cost of $10,000. They erected the building and called Prof. J. H. Gray to open out the school. The Professor organized the institution as a male school, and conducted it Ruccessfullj' for five years. lie was assisted at first by Dr. Otis, and afterward by Prof. Pointer. The attendance ranged from fifty to sixt}-, but during the last live months the pupils numbered about forty, and Prof. Gray was alone. About this time the citizens of Owensboro made a move toward establishing free schools; ai"i as the College was sustained princi- pally by local patronage, i* ,i- seen that it cnuKI not be kept up in competition with fi-ee schools, and the institution was therefore abandoned, and the building sold to the city. Wif^ker^s ScJiOol. — Pi-of. W. G. AValker taught school for six -yr eight yc^ars, commencing in the spring of 180:^, in the boardirtg- hou^e building on St. Ann street, afterward purchased by Mr. Bransford. He had as many as forty or fifty boarding ])upils, be- sides about sixty from the citv. It was a most flourishing school, brit, \un\i [• ni'<.rie('t, it graOually died. Br'nt!fi>idliist'itntt. — In the year 1802, Mr. IJeiijainin Brans- ibvi], fur whiiin the iuslitute was name 1, purchased a lot and build- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKO. 361 iiiir on St. Ann street, between Third and Fonrtli streets, then naed &^ a Ixiardiiig sclmol, and erecting by its side a two-story addition, oi>ened a Bchuol for the use of the general public. The need of a properly conducted institution of tliis kind had long been felt in Ovvcnsboro, as there were no free schools in the State at that date, and parents were obliged to send their cliildren to other cities where educational facilities were to be found. Mr. Bransford moved alone in this enterprise, and devoted much time and a small fortune to the turtberance of the project. The building erected for this purpose was 75 x4:5 feet. The rooms were fitted up with the best imjiroved furniture and modern appliances, purchased principally in New York. The buiidin;;; was dedicated on Christmas eve, 1862, and was on that occasion christened ''Bransford Institute." It was chartered under the laws of the State of Kentucky. Prof. Wm. Marriner, of Leban'on University, was engaged as principal, the school remainin:;- imder his charge for three years. Ilov. E. B. Crisinan, M. A., of Memjtliis, succeeded him one year, followed by Prof. Arnistroni; two years. It was then presided over for two years by Mrs. ]\[iiler, wife of Rev. A. B. Miller. At the expira- tion of the last term, the city and county had ado])ted the free- school system, and the Institute was no longer a necessity. After the sus])t-nsion of the Institute Mr. Bransford sold the property, the new building being purchased by the city and now in use as the city hall; aiiJ the older portion to Mr. Bl. Auer, who has turned it into a tenement house. Mr. Bransford expended nearly $35,000 in building and fitting up this school, and realized but about one- third that amount in the sale of the property afterward. While the school was in operation ho turned it over to the respective prin- cipals, askiiiir only tliat his children be educated there. Daviess Academy. — This was taught, near the close of the war, by Uev. II. T. Morton, Principal, and E.cv. J. C. Maple, Instructor in Mathematics. (Joitrnl Hiij'tist College. — An association of Baptists, just after the close of the war, asked the Legislature to place the Owens- biiid si'hool building (now Upper Ward) under their control, for the jnii pose of making it the seat of a college. TI" V'"/,/h.ii> Fi tiKth Iiistitvfe, located on the corner of Fourth and AValnul street-, was first organized under the direction and nianagcmont of -Mrs. Iv Sue Phillips in isdS, and was chartered by the Koutiu-ky Legishature nmier tliat name. V Piiillipscar- ried on tiie -^cliooi successfally for several ye .nd was sue- Digitized by Microsoft® 3f)2 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. ceeded by Prof. J. TL. Gra.y, tlieii by Prof. Win. Wines, and tben by Prof. Thos. W. Mitclieli, a minister. Tlie scliool is now (1883) ■under the manaj^einent of Mrs. M. F. Van Rensselaer and Mrs. M. E. Klinger, with a competent corps of teacliers. The princi- pals of the school mentioned above liave all been experienced teachers of long standing, and, by faithful and earnest work, have made the school a necessity to the city and neighborhood. In connection with the scliool is a boarding liouse, under the super- vision of the teachers, where ])upils from a distance can find ample accommodations. The enrollmcint for the present j'ear is over 100 pupils, with a present attendance of seventy -iive. The English branches, bookkeeping, liigher niatiiematics, draw- ing, painting, music, French and Latin are taught — the last men- tioned by Rev. B. D. Cockrill. Owenshoro Classical School. — This is taught by the veteran educator, Prof. J. H. Gray, in a frame building erected for the purpose, 18 x 32, on Bolivar street, between Fourth and Fifth. Attendance about thirty-eight. Strict discipline. Thorough in- struction. " Excelsior" school furniture. Common and higher branches taught, including a complete collegiate course. Prof. Gray is personally well known to the Owensboro people, he hav- ing organized and successfully conducted the Baptist College, the Owensboro graded schools, etc., and having had thirty years' ex- perience as a teacher — fifteen in a standard college. Ths '■'■ Amencan- German School Association'''' was chartered and organized in January, 1863, for the purpose of instructing the German youth in all the common brandies, including English. They employed two teachers most of the time, built a school-house in the upper part of town, and taught a flourishing school until about the time the free-schools were established in 1871. They supported their schools by subscription mostly; a small fund was drawn from the public treasury. Business and Commercial Schools. — The principal teacliers in this class of schools in Owensboro have been Dr. J. Otis, J. H. Crutcher, and Geo. W- Crutcher. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. March 13, 1871, an act of the State Legislature was approved constituting the city of Owensboro a school district, independent of the general school laws of the State. It places the public schools of the city under the control of a Board of Trustee s. to be elected by Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 363 the people,— three from each of the two wards, " To be elected for a period of two years, and at the same time and place that city coun- cilmen are elected. The pecnliar features of the charter are, the re- quirement that the German language shall be taught, and tliat no colored pupils shall be admitted into these schools. The schools are to he supported by a special public tax; but the trustees may iisuo bonds to the amount of $30,000, not exceeding ten per cent. This act was ratified by the citizens April G, following. The ordi- nary '^pcr capita''' is drawn from the State fund. The first meeting of the trustees under the provisions of the foregoing charter was held the next evening, the Mayor, S. D. Kennady, ex-officio President, when the Trustees elected were found to be, Dr. W. D. Stirman, John Wandling, Camden Riley, John Thixton, Philander Road and J. H. Branham. Dr. David Todd was appointed Census Taker and J. H. Gray, Superintendent of Schools. Messrs. Wandling, Kiley, Stirman and Read were appointed a committee to ascertain what property could be bought for school purposes, and the probable cost of the same. The first Friday night of each month was fixed as the time for regular meetings. May 3 it was determined to have one ward school in each ward. May 12, Messrs. Riley aiid Stirman were appointed a committee to draft plans and specifications for a building in the Second Ward, Buflicient to accommodate 275 to 300 pupils. May 19, plans and specifications drafted by John Fields adopted, and a committee appointed to advertise for bids; the board offers $11,000 for the Baptist College, for a school-house in the First Ward. June 5, contract for building the Second Ward school-house was awarded to George Brown, of Owensboro, at $7,820, and $12,000 was ordered paid for the Baptist College building. Lower Ward school building erected 1871, at a cost of $12,000 for building and furniture. Capable of accommodating 300 pupils. The building has six rooms, including the basement, which has re- cently been fitted up to accommodate increased number of pupils attending. The foregoing is a sufficient introduction to the series of pro- ceedings had by the trustees of the Owensboro public schools for white children. Statistics must tell the rest of the story. Tlie following is a list of te:4,chers from the first to date : Superintendents.— J . H. Gray, 1871-'3; F. Griffin, 1873-'4r; A. G. Brown, 1874-'5; S. T. Lowry, 1875-'81; John B. Solomon 1881 -'2; A. C. Goodwin, 1882-'3. Digitized by Microsoft® 364 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Principals of the Eigh School.— F. A. Pointer, 1872; S. T. Lowry, 1873- '5. Piineipals of the First Ward School. — P. A. Pointer, 1872; Mrs. M. E. Klinger, 1872-'3; S. 7. Lowry, 1873-'5; W. M. Fisher, 1875-'7; N. H. Decker, 1878-'0; Mrs. M. E. Klinger, 1879-'82; W. A. Hester, 1882-'3. Principals of the Second Ward School. — S. T. Lowry, 1871-'2; P. A. Pointer, 1872-'3; Mrs. M. E. Klinger, 1873; "W. M Fisher, 1874-'5; Mrs. M. E. K.inger, 1875-'9; M. G. Stirman, 1879-'80; Miss Laura Hughes, 1881-'3. Teachers of Intermediate and Prinuiry Grades. — Mrs. M. E. Klinger, 1871-'2; P. A. Pointer, 1871-'2; Mrs. Yiola Moseley, 1871-'5; Mrs. Mary T. Ayer, 1871-'7; Miss Lou C. Colgan (Mrs. Moore), 1871-'4; Miss Anna J. Colgan, 1871-'4; Miss Yallie B.. Williams, 1872 -'3; Miss Laura HugheS, 1872-'81; Mrs. Eachel A. Wandling, 1872-'83; Mrs. M. E. Van Rensselaer, 1872-'80; Mrs. Mary A. Hart, 1873-83; Mrs. Fannie Conway, 1874-'83; Miss S. L. Swale, 1874-'6; Miss Ella Hawes, 1875-7; Miss Laura Mayo, 1876-'82; Miss Annie Howard, 1876-'81; Mrs. Sallie Taylor, 1876-'9; Miss H. A. Wines, 1877- '81; Miss Vitula Jones, 1877- '83; Mrs. C. Y. Boyd, 1878-'9; Miss C. C. Tyler, 1878-'83. Miss Maria Moorman, 1878-'9; Miss Hart Oowan, 1878-'9; Miss CorniaJSTaghel, 1879-'82; Miss Lizzie Field, 1879-'83; Mrs. M. L. Singleton, 1880-'3; Miss Lee Brown, 1880-'2; Miss Mary F. Halsel, 1881-'2; Miss Sophia Gash, 1881-'3; Miss Mattie Haney,1881-'3; Miss Lntie Thomas, ]881-'3; Mrs. C. W. Cerf, 1881; Miss Sallie Daly, 1881-'2; Miss Mamie Woodsmall, 1881-'3; Miss Carrie Green, 1882-'3; Miss Annie Brown, 1882-'3. Teachers of German.— Kr. Dg \l\xy,Wll-''2,; O. F. Schultz, 1872-'3; Miss Weitlauf, 1874-'6; Miss JSTenwohner, 1877-'8; F. Bauer, 1879-'81; Rev. H. F. Deters, 1882-'3. Besides the fore-mentioned, Mrs. A. J. Swiney and Miss Laura Hughes were "Senior teachers " in 1875-'6, and H. A. Wines, 1877-'8; and C. R. Bishop was "Assistant in First Ward, " iu 1871-'2. The mayor of Owenshoro was ex-officlo president of the School Board until recently. The law is so changed that the board shall elect its own president. The present incumbent of that office (1883) is II. P Tompkins. The present board comprises S. H. Ford, Dr. E. H. Luckett and B. F. Rice, of the First Ward; and Dr. C. H. Todd, George Brown and I. W. Sutherland, of the Sec- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKO. 365 ond. The present standing committees are: Finance — Todd .lud Brown; Salaries and Supplies — Sutherland and Luckett; I'uild- ings and Grounds — Ford and Sutherland; Printing and Revision — Brown and Ford; Grievances — Luckett, Kice and Todd; Rules — Rice and Todd. Board of Trustees. — II. P. Tompkins, President; Dr. S. H. Ford, Dr. 0. H. Todd, George Brown, Dr. E. II. Luckett, J. F. Rice and R. W. Sutherland. Instructm^s. — Prof. A .0. Goodwin, Superintendent; Prof. W. A. Hester and Miss Laura Hughes, Principals; Airs. F. Con- way, Miss Carrie Green, Mrs. M. E. Hart, Miss Lizzie Field, Mrs M. L. Singleton, Miss Vitula Jones and Miss Mamie Woodsmall, Intermediate teachers; Miss Fannie S. Colvin, Miss R. A. Wand ling. Miss Lutie Thomas, Miss Annie Brown, Miss Mattie Haney, Miss Sophie Gash, Miss 0. C. Tyler, Primary teachers; and Rev. H. F. Deters, German teacher. 1871. — President, ex officio., S. D. Kennady; Trustees, John Thixton, John "Wandling, Camden Riley, Dr. W. D. Stirman, Philander Read and J. H. Branham (resigned, succeeded by Charles "Werner); Clerk of Board, Ed. Morman; Superintendent, Prof. J.H. Gray. 1872. — President, Ben. Bran sford; Trustees, Dr. W. D. Stirman, George W. Williams, Charles Werner, John Wandling, Dr. C. H. Todd and Dr. B. II. Hobbs;; Clerk, E. B. Colgan ;" Superin- tendent, Prof. J. H. Gray. 1873.— President, Ben. Bransford ; Trustees, Dr. G. II. Todd, Dr. B. H. Hobbs, Charles Werner, R. AY. Sutherland, L. W. Marble and John- Wandling ; Clerk, E. B. Colgan; Superintendent, Prof. J. H. Gray, succeeded by Prof. Frank Griffin. 1874. — President, George Brown ; Trustees, R. W. Sutherland, L. W. Marble; John Wandling, Dr. C. 11. Todd, Charles Werner and Dr. J. Q. A. Stewart; Clerk, S. F. Lowry; Superintendent, Prof. Frank Griffin, succeeded by Prof A. G. Bi-own. 1875. — President, George Hi-own; Trustees, Dr. 0. 11. Todd, Charles Werner, J. Q. A. Stewart, L. W. Marble, John Thixton and B. H. Hobbs; Clerk, S. T. Lowry (resigned and succeeded by David F. Todd); Superintendent, Prof. A. G. Brown, succeeded by Prof. S. T. Lowry. 1876. — President, George Brown ; Trustees, L. W. Marble, John Thixton, B. II. Hobbs, J. Q. A. Stewart, S. H. Ford and Digitized by Microsoft® 366 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Dr. C. H. Todd; Clerk, David F.Todd; Superintendent, Prof. S. T. Lowry. 1877. ^President, George Brown; Trustees, J. Q. A. Stewart, S. H. Ford, Dr. C. H. Todd, J. H. McHenry, T. H. Frayser and Dr. B. H. Hobbs ; Clerk, D. F. Todd (died, succeeded by W. H. Owen); Superintendent, S. T. Lowry. 1878.— President, John Thixton ; Trustees, J. H. McHenry, T. H. Frayser, Dr. B. H. Hobbs, K. W. Sutherland. James Kennady and John Wandling; Clerk, W. H. Owen; Superintendent, Prof. S. T. Lowry. 1879.— President, John Thixton; Trustees, E. "W. Sutherland, James Kennady, John Wandling, F. J. Clarke, Henry Megill and Dr. C. C. Watkins; Clerk, W. H. Owen ; Superintendent, Prof. S. T. Lowry. 1880. — President, James K. Tharpe; Trustees, F. J. Clarke, Henry Megill, Dr. C. C. "Watkins (resigned and succeeded by T. H. Frayser), John Wandling, J. F. Eice and E. W. Sutherland; Clerk, W. H. Owen; Superintendent, Professor S. T. Lowry. 1881. — President, James K. Tharpe; Trustees, John Wandlin E. W. Sutherland, J. F. Eice, Dr. E. H. Luckett, H. B. Tomp- kins and F. J. Clarke; Clerk, W. H. Owen; Superintendent, S. T. Lowry, succeeded by Prof. JohnB. Solomon. 1882.— President, H. P. Tompkins; Trustees, Dr. E. H. Luck- ett, J. F. Eice, Isaac Sullivan, Dr. S. H. Ford, Dr. C. H. Todd and George Brown; Clerk, W. H. Owen; Superintendent, Prof. John B. Solomon succeeded by Prof. A. C. Goodwin. ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE. J872- ieT3- 1874- 187.1- ]87f;- 1S77- 1S7S- l'7i) l.SSO- lysi- 1-3. -S'?-8 9. . 80 ENROLLED. 643 652 7f)0 753 714 815 8f)5 829 830 AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCB. 474 534 534 504 492 571 620 621 655 Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSJBOEO. EXPENSES FOR TWO AVERAGE YEARS. 36Y Salaries Supplies Fuel Buildings and prounda. . . . Books for invalid children. Cash expenditures 1879-80. $ 7,787.50 433.76 190.30 803.76 19.43 $8,7'32.fi4 1881-2. |7,933 85 685.30 192.65 698.73 16 33 $9,505.61 The wages of the Principal of the First "Ward School is $70 a month; of the Second Ward School, $fiO; of primary teachers, $37.50; of teachers in the intermediate and grammar departments. $40. Colored School. — This is supported almost exclusively by the State fund, which yields, since August, 1882, $1.30 per child of school age. Previously the per capita had thirty to fifty cents. There are now about 500 colored children of school age (between six and twenty years) in the city of Owensboro. Their school building, on Poplar street, between Third and Fourth, was erected in 1879, is of brick, and 30 x 40 feet in dimensions. Average at- tendance about 200. The teachers are Lewis Metcalf, Principal, and Mrs. Anna Vairian and Owen Barrett, Assistants. We wish we had space here for biographical sketches of all the school teachers of Owensboro from the earliest times to the pres- ent, especially of those who remained here some time and endeared themselves to the hearts of many children. An account of each school would also be interesting, but we have been limited to an outline of a few of the most prominent. Among the most noted teachers we have already mentioned Mr. Scar- borough. We may add here four or five others. Prof. P. A. Pointer first taught in the Baptist College in this place, then in the public schools, next in Bethel College at Russell- ville, and afterward in various other places until his health failed. He is now dead. Prof. Wm. Wines, a brother of the noted F. H. Wines, sociol- ogist, of Illinois, was a most excellent teacher. He was connected with the Vaughan Seminary for some time, in its earlier history. Prof. Wm. Marriner, Principal of the Bransford Institute about three years, was from Lebanon, Tenn., and was a superior teacher. His wife also was person of strong mind and a high order of talent. Digitized by Microsoft® 368 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Prof. J. H. Gray: see chapter entitled "Authors and Artists." Prof. A. C. Goodwin, present Superintendent of the Owensboro City Schools, was born in Clarke County, Ind. After finishing the common-school course he attended a classical academy in Jeffer- sonville, Ind., and tlien a full course 'at Boyd's Commercial Col- lege, Louisville, Ky. At the age of seventeen, during the war, he accepted the place of hospital steward at Jeffersonville; afterward he followed railroading, then spent three years at Kentucky University, Lexington; next was Principal of the Jeffersonville (Ind.) High School; then returned to Kentucky University a year, and then was Principal of the Male High School at Jeffer- sonville a year. He was County Examiner and Superintendent 1870-'82, when he resigned and came to Owensboro. By 1880 Prof. Goodwin had attained so great a reputation as an educator that he was placed by the Democracy of Indiana upon their ticket for State Superintendent of Public Instruction; but, it will be remembered, the Republicans carried Indiana that year. Dancing Master. — The most prominent, if not the only, dancing master who ever taught the Terpsichorean art in Owensboro, was H. C. Lippard, who first came here about 1858, and has made periodical visits since that date, excepting during the war. CHUECHES. St. Stephens' Catholic. — The first religions services according to the Catholic faith were held at the residence of W. Coomes, about a mile below town, once a month, by Rev. Wathen. The pastors since then have been: W. S. Coomes, 1841, to August, 1855*, Eugene O'Callaghan, September, 1855, to March, 1870; Ivo Schacht, March, 1870, to April, 1874; A. J. Brady, May, 1874, to Nov. 1, 1877; D. F. Crane, Nov. 1, 1877, to the present. The congregation now comprises 235 families. The church building, three squares west of the court-house, was erected many years ago; and were it not for a stringency of the times at present, a larger edifice would be erected. Mass every Sunday. Catechetical instruction at St. Francis Academy at 2 v. m. St. Francis Academy and St. Stephens' Parochial School. — The day-school for Catholic children was first taught in the old Daviess County Seminary building; but now it is kept in a large house built for the purpose, on Third street. The front portion is a two- story frame, and the rear a two-story brick. There are now eight Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 369 teachers employed — Sisters of Charity of Nazareth: Eulalia, Sister Superior. Rev. "W. S. Coomes died in Louisville about 1874; Rev. O'Cal- laghan is now in Fairfield, Nelson Co., Ky. ; Kev. A. J. Brady is pastor of the congregation at the Louisville Cathedml. Father Ivo Schacht died in April, 1874. He was born in Ei-uj^es in 1821, and came to America in 1842; was ordained at Nashville in 1843; pastor of the cathedral tifteeri years; then missionary among the Indians in Kansas; in 1861 was appointed to St. Al- phonsus Church, this county, where he was msti'umental in the building of two churches and two flourishing schools. Next lie was appointed to Lebanon, where he built a fine chnrch; thence to Danville, Paducah,and finally to Owensboro, where he endeared himself to the hearts of many people. Hev. D. F. Crane was born in the city of Louisville, Ky., in May, 1843. His preparatory studies were completed in the Sem- inary of St. Thomas, near Bardstown, Ky., after which he was sent by his bishop to the American College of Louvain, Belgium. Here lie attended the course of the famous University of Louvain, and received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. He was ordained to the sacred ministry in August, 1867, and immediately returned to his native country. The first year of his ministry was spent as professor in St. Mary's College, Marion County, Ky. He then, by order of the Bishop of Diocese, took charge of the congregations of Shelbyville and mission. This latter at the time embraced the counties of Shelby, Spencer, Henrj', Oldham and Trimble. After- ward he was sent successively to St. Patrick's Churcb, Louisville, Henderson, and to the Theological Seminary near Louisvilie. In the seminary he filled the chairs of Mental Philosopiiy and Moral Theology. Placed in charge of the congregatiuis at Leliaiion. Marion County, he labored there for two year^. whence he \'.as removed to his present position in October, 1877. St. Josejifi^s Church (Catholic (-rerman). — In ls7(i, while Fiev. Callaghan was pastor of St. Stei)lioirrt Chnrch, an En^-'li^li si^'akin.; congregation, the Gernian e'eujent was 5C]iaratC'd W-.m'. it ■,^\\.\ .or- ganized as St. Joseph's Church, undtT IJev. Fatlier Volk, 'U VVcir Louisville, this county. Tiie ninios of th(; lirst nn'n.'ie/!? «(iv; PanlToMtie-, Michael Cranio, Yict(.ir Sti'chl. Henry Ijilln! mn. ..i::""i.> Meis, George Sohatfer.. I oseph [Lo-^e, Henry l!>)>'j, John Gillis;. Frank Cammuil", Andy Eger. etc. The tir>r vciigious sei vice waj heM ie. 24 Digitized by Microsoft® ;-jiti nisiDHv 'II- i)AViK.--s cciL'Nrv. the si!ii.Hp!-iii,iisu, coi'iiei-iif Thii'il and Miilborry streets, and Father Volk \va- till' Hi'st ) I'cai'lier. Ill 1S71 !!!!■ (u'liii.-ni <'atl!olics built a I'raine cliuruh near McFar- ■aii(i .-riftf. ill Tiii'lctt's and Sweenie's Precinct, SiixiJO I'^et. The ehiiii'i -sa.-- dedicated, and tlie tirst ser\iee lield \>y liev. Kathe: Sc!a:-lit, who was then pastor i)t' St. Stejjhen's Oiiiirch. The first roid.ent jiastor was E. M. Bachnian. wlio preached Ids tir.st sfrniL>i> iiero June IS, IbT'i. lie ])reiiched one year, tlien went ti> Knr.'pe lir a \'ear, Kuv. Father Westeruian supplying ids pulpit during bis absence. Father Eacliinan remained pastor of this churcli ujitii 1878, when he was called to St. Louis by Rt. liev. Bishop Win. McCloskey. Rev. F. J. ITaeseley was tlien sent to take charge of St. Joseph's congregation. May 12, 1S7S, the frame cluirch on the hill was burned; cause unknown. By order of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, . Father Uaeseley bniit a temporary church, 30 x 30 feet, on the site of the old church. In October of the same year a lot was i)archased of W. Speed, cor- ner of Fourth and Clay streets, and the present brick church was erected thereon. Size of building, 86 x 43 feet. March 7, 1880, the new church was blessed and eervice was held therein by Kev- P. J. Uaeseley, the presetit pastor. The new church is not yet quite completed. The cost of church and lot is about $10,000. Missions were given in the temporary churcli by Bronsgeat Ilillman, and a second one in the new church by Rev. Chrysostomus Toffa, 0. B., in October, 1882. The present ofBcers of the church are Andy Eger and A. M. Breitenbach. The congregation comprises about sixty-five fami- lies. Cathechetical instruction is given every Sunday, at 2 p. m., by the pastor in the church and by the sisters in the school-house. Since February, 1881, two Ursuline Sisters have been teaching tiie scliool near the present church on Clay street. Number of pupils, seventj'-eight. liov. P. J. Hciesdey was born in Switzerland in 1830, and came to America in 1866, landing at New York, March 25. He at- tended St. Thomas' Seminary, Nelson Ciunty, Ky., seven years, then studied theology at Mount St. Mary's College and Seminary at Cincinnati, and in 1867 was ordained to the gospel ministry at the cathedral in Louisville. He was first stationed over the con- gregation of St. Martin's at Louisville, and then ten years in a German settlement about ten miles from Paducah, Ky., where he built a church, and lastly, in 1878, he came to Owensboro, arriv- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBUKK. t571 ing here Feb. 18, since which time he has been pastor of St. Josepli's Cliurch (Catliolic), as noted above. Baptist Church of Owennhoro. — April 1, 1834, Owensboro had about '50 people, among whom were two Baptists, both ladies. These were Sisters Miller and Pici^ot-t. April 3 of that year, George 1!^^. McKay and wife, both Baptists, came fiom Taylorville to this place. Dm'iijg tlie^same year came William Head, Irwood Daniel and wife, from Shelby County; Mrs. G. W. Triphtt, from Great' Crossing, Scott County; John' Stout nnd wife from Buck Creek, Shelby County. Rev. Reuben Cottrell commenced preach- ing here in the spring of 1834, during which year he baptized two colored women. On Saturday before the second Sunday in May, a church was constituted in the seminary by Revs. Reuben Cot- trell and Thomas Downer, with eight white and eighteen black members. At the next meeting William Head, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Tarlton joined. Mr. Cottrell was chosen Pastor, William Hood, Clerk, and L. Stout, Deacon. John L. Burrows, a young man from New England, was in Kentucky as agent for the China mis- sion, and visited Owensboro about Marcliof 1838 or 1839. In the early part of May he commenced a f)rotracted meeting litre. Elder Ben Crouch was hi)lding a quarterly meeting. Mr. Burrows proposed a union meeting, but Mr. Crouch refused, and went on with his meetings until Wednesday night, when he closed. Mr. Burrows then went into a union meeting with the Methodist circuit- rider, i\nd Sam. Elhoun, a lay preacher. The people came only to hear Mr. Burrows, su, after a day or two, he did all the preaching. The meetings lasted about six weeks, and there were 200 per.sous converted, of whom 100 joined the Baptist church. Mr. Burrow.s went from here to Pleasant Grove, seven miles west of town, where about 100 were converted. He also went to Henderson, where lie cons-tituted a churcli of about !0(t membeis. He was called to supply the pulpits ol these two churclie?, preaching two Sundays at (Owensboro and one at Henderson. Tins task he accepted, and performed for some time. In September, 1840, Mr. Burrows and wile wore, at their own request, dismissed from the society, ani.l went to the Fifth Baptist of Philadelphia. He had been very po])U- lar with all his people, and they parted with him with regret, knowing how useful iiis labors had been for the Owensboro church. Rev. J. G. Howard, who had joinetl the church by letter in May, 1839, was now ordained as the j^astor. He served the Digitized by Microsoft® 372 HISTORY OF DAVIESW (OL'NTy. church faithfully for about two and a half years, altliough i)art of the time preacliing but once a inoutli, when liev. Alfred Taylor was chosen pastor. In December, lS-15, llev. [). E. Hums was called to preach the first and fourth Sundays in each nniutli. He ])reached regularly during 1846, and tlien went to another sectioji of the country to labor. Rev. Alfred Taylor became jnistor of the Owensboro church in January, 184-7, and preached until May. 1848, when he resigned. Tin- church was unable to secure the services of another pastor until the following January, when Rev. V. R. Kirtly was chosen pastor, at a salary of $.J5(). The chui'ch now had regular service.'^ every Suiiday, for the first time in many years. Mr. Kirtly resigned in January, IS.'il, being a])pointed agent for the Kentucky and F(^reign Missionary Society. During 1851 the church had no regidar ])astor, but in January, I'^oS, they secured the services of Rev. L. L. ITelm, at $60t) per aniiiun salary. He resigned in August, 1853, and was followed by Rev. R. C Euckner, who commenced his labors here Oct. 1-), 18.")4. Mr. Buckner resigned in June, 1855, and was parted with by his congregation with much regret. The ne.Kt pastor called was Rev. N. B. Waller. He accepted the call, but died on his journey to Owensboro. The church was again without a pa-tor until May, 1856, when Rev. A. B. Smith took charge of the church, remain- ing until September, 1858. He was followed by Rev. B. T. Taylor, who preached until the fall of 1861, when he resigned. These were troublous times for the Owensboro Ba])tist fliurch, a.s well as for thousands of other churches, many of which died en- tirely from the dissensions arising from the war of lS()l-'5. In March, 18Gi2, Rev. A. B. Miller became ])astoi- of the Ovven-boi'O church, lie was succeeded, in December, 18ti4, by R'n'. -J. C. Maple, who left in 1868. Then came Rev. C. C. Chaplin, of Vir- ginia, who i'em:iined wilh llie congregation until 1873, and the i resigned to accept a call to Paducah. He was a vcrv j)o)iular Hum, atid his lociil- j)as!oi', r,>r. [ !'. Si):.,:ni)H, of Sharon, Pa. Tiie i)res('nl mciuberNhip of fliv i-ii:irc!i i^ i'^o '\'\\k' Clerk of the church is W. J 1, Owen; 'J'i-cas\ii-"i-, Dr. S. 11. ';■'., rd: Finance Committee, Y. I^. Foi-d, J. W. Coleman, and .1. 1-". ."^uUoi;; Deacons, "l". F. Ford, James II. Parrisl), Dr. 15. II. llobbs. L. Lumpkin, J. Jj. Cruse, John S. Mobc-rly, and John S. I'.iown. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 373 The Sunday-school has a nierabershi]> of 135, and is in a flourish- ing condition generally. Rev. Josiah Bridges Solomon, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Owensboro, was born Jan. 18, 1824, in Franklin County, N. C, and is the first son and third child of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Bridges) Solomon, natives also of North Carolina. Mr. Solomon's grandfather, "William Solomon, settled in the Isle of Wight County, Va. During the Revolutionary war, when the British obtained possession of Virginia, he moved into North Caro- lina, where he ultimately died, at a very advanced age. He was very pious, and on his death-bed he insisted that his attendants should help hira out, so that he could get upon his bended knees and pray. Assuming this suppliant attitude, he prayed for his children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren, etc., down through the ages to come. After his death four of his sons became ministers of the gospel; and every grandchild of his is aClifistian. Tiie wife of William Solomon was a Gordon, and a descendant of a Scotch clan of that name. Jeremiah was their youngest son, and the father of the subject of this sketch. The latter has the blood of four nationalities on his father's side — English, Scotch, French and German, and two on his mother's — English and Welsh. His father died in 1852, and his mother is still living. Mr. Solomon was reared on a farm. At the age of eighteen he embraced Christianity and joined the Baptist church, being bap- tized by Kev. P. H. Smith, in November, 1843. He obtained a good academic education, surpassing his classmates in the classical languages, mathematics, natural philosopliy, mental and moral science, etc. He' then attended Wake Forest College, from which he afterward reeei'\ ed the degree of A. M. After teaching school a year or two he was appointed a missionary by the North Carolina State Convention, and preached as a missionary for two years in the counties of Davy, Rowan, Davidson and Surrey. Here his work was very l)ard, but at the same time the happiest of his life. From his labors in this field grew four churches directly, and indi- rectly a number of others. His health failing he returned to the farm two years; he then, in Januarj-, 1854, took charge of the ohurch at Warrenton, N. C, where he continued eight years, increasing the membership from 25 to 150. While here he ac- cepted a challenge to a discussion with a Methodist, which resulted in his having to baptize a large number of the Methodist church at that place. Digitized by Microsoft® 374 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTIT. In 1860 Mr. Solomon accepted a call to the pastorate of the Leigh Street Church, in Richmond, Va. In the spring of 1861 the war broke out, and Mr. Sres('nt librai'v is a solid mass of learning. In Octob-'i'. T<1-!), the subject of this sketcli was married to Miss Mary M. 15urges, a native ol' ^'^'^a^relUl):l ('(unity. N. C. the daughter of John and Alartha (Alston) Burges and a direct descendant of Bishop Purges, of tire Episco])al church, who was a private instructor of Miss Dandridge, afterward the wife ot the great George Wash- ington. Mrs. Solomon's matei'nal grandfatlier was an oflicer in Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 37S the Revolutionary war, and although entitled to a large pension, he would never receive a cent, saying that it was ignoble to receive wages for performing patriotic duty. Mrs. Solomon's mother was a first cousin of the father of Aaron Burr's son-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Solomon have five living children, namely: William Thomas, a merchant in Chicasro; John Barges, now teaching in Parker's Grove Academy, La Rue County, Kj'; Joseph Bell, bookkeeper in a wholesale house in Chicago; Loula Estelle, now Mrs. John M. Reeves, of AVarren, Ohio; and Mary M., teacher of music in South Kentucky College. Walnid Street Baptist Church. — This church was organized as "Ash Valley Church," Nov. 5, 1876, at Asli Valley School- house, about four miles below Owensboro, by Revs. D. E. Yeiser and J. M. Peay, after a series of meetings held by tliese minis ters. The main organization was composed of about thirty mem- bers dismissed by letter from other Baptist churches, among whom were R. C. Faqua, Sarah I. Faqiia, R. M. Fuqua, Willie Fuqua, W. T. Lea, M. E. Lea, E. G. Adams, Mary C. Adams, Gilbert Hagerman, S. P. Ilagerman, C. L. Nail, S. R. Nail, Joseph Carlin, Sarah J. Carlin, J. W. Worthirigton, Robert Patrick, Fannie Patrick, W. 11. Sands and others; The officers were elected at a called meeting, Nov. 8, 1876: W. T. Lea, Mod- erator; Gilbert Ilagerman, Clerk; Joseph Carlin, Treasurer; church meeting, the Saturday before the fourth Sunday in each month. Nov. 12, 1876, R. C. Fuqua, E. G. Adams and Joseph Carlin were ordained Deacons by Ifevs. D.'E. Yeiser and B. Y. Cundiff. W. T. Lea, having been previously ordained, was called to active Deaconship Dec. 28, 1876, and Rev. D. E. Yeiser was elected Pastor. Nov. 24, 1877, E. G. Adams was elected Moderator, and C. L. Nail. Treasurer. Oct. 12, 1878, it was decided to move the church to Owensboro, which they did, and then joined in a series of meetings which were being held in Turpin's tobacco factory, in tlie west end of the city, by Rev. J. M. Peay, a missionary from the Daviess County Association, assisted by Dr. J. S. Coleman. At a regular meeting held Nov. 23, 1878, the name of Ash Valley (Church, whicli had, been adopted, was changed to Walnut Street Baptist Ciiurcli, of Owensboro. A large number of members were received from time to time, some by letter from the First Church of Owensboro, and some by baptism, among whom were William N. Mason, Einaline Mason, J. D. Robinson, Fannie Robinson, S. T. Lowry, Mary Lowry, John Moorman, Jennie Moorman, Digitized by Microsoft® 376 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTy. Cecilia V. Boyd, Pauline Collins, Mollie J. Cox, and others, from First Churcli, and George H. Cox, Lizzie Talbott, John R. Phil- lips, and several others, by baptism. Dec. 21, 1878, E. G. Adams was re-elected Moderator, and George H. Cox was elected Clerk. The place of meeting was changed to Mrs. E. Sue Phillips's school-house, corner of Fourth and "Walnut streets. Jan. 25, 1879, Rev. D. E. 7eiser. Pastor, and C. L. Nail, Treasurer, tendered their resignations, which were accepted. W. N. Mason was then elected Treasurer. Feb, 28, 1879, Rev. D. E. Yeiser was recalled as Pastor. July 26, 1879, Dr. J. S. Coleman was chosen to dedi- cate their new church building on the fifth Sabbath in August, which was done. At this time D. E. Yeiser again resigned. Dec. 2, 1879, Dr. J. S.. Coleman, the present Pastor, was elected. Jan. 1, 1880, W. N. Mason was elected Moderator, and George H. Cox, Clerk. In May, 1880, the church was admitted to member- ship in the General Association. Nov. 3, 1878, a Sunday-school was organized in Turpin's tobacco factory, with S. T. Lowry as Superintendent, and John Moorman, Secretary; there were about thirty pupils. In February, 1880, George H. Cox was elected Superintendent, a position which he still fills. The church build- ing was commenced in December, 1878, and completed at a cost of about $5,000. Fourth Street Baptist Church (colored). — This society was organized many years ago, when records were not very sacredly kept. They worshiped at first in a log building which stood almost directly in a ravine, sifice filled up, just below where St. Stephen's Church now stands. Isom Howard was their minister for many years. The present church building, a brick, between Elm and Poplar streets, was built before the war; seating capacity, 500 or more. Since it was first built, twenty feet addition has beou made to the rear or north end. It is now eighty feet long by forty wide. As pastors of this church, Mr. Howard has been succeeded by Revs. DuPuy, Caldwell, Edward Newsom and Moses Harding, the present incumbent, who has been here nearly seven years. There are now about 500 members. There have been over 600, but a few years ago i new church was formed from it, who have their head- quarters in the eastern part of the city. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of 80 to 100. Nelson Talbntt is the present Superintendent. The principal revivals have occurred under the ministrations Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 377 of Rev. Newsom, who added over 100 to the church, and Rev. Norris, from Henderson, who conducted a revival here resulting also in the addition of over 100 to the church. Mr. Harding has added about 300 to this church. Center Street Baptist Church (colored). — This has also been called " Snow Hill Baptist Church;" the name does not yet seem to be settled. It is comparatively young and weak. A frame church has been commenced on Snow Hill, probably 34 x 50 feet in dimen- sions, but when the frame was up and roof and siding on work ceased. The society holds regular religious services, however. Rev. A. Merrifield has been pastor here. Rev. Salter is the present minister. The fall of 1878 was marked by one of the greatest revivals ever witnessed in this. community. It commenced in Turpin's factory and ended in the First Baptist Church, by the conversion of over 250 persons, and the addition of over 200 to the church. Dr. J. S. Coleman was the principal minister, assisted by Revs. J. M. and R. D. Peay and D. K. Yeiser. May 20, 1880, a general conference of the Baptist ministers of Kentucky was held at the First Baptist Church. The Green liiver Baptist Theological xnstitution. — March 27, 1867, this society held its first meeting in Owensboro, commencing on Wednesday and closingits labors on Sunday night. The attend- ance was large and appreciative, and the lectures delivered by the gentlemen appointed for that purpose were in the highest degree in- teresting and instructive. Rev. J. M. Dawson spoke on Regenera- tion, Repentance and Faith; Rev. J. S. Coleman, on Personality, Divinity, and Work of the Holy Spirit; Mr. J. H. Branham, on Ac- tion, Design and Symbolism of Baptism; Rev. J. C. Maple, on Church Government; Rev. J. M. Peay, on Communion. Rev. J. S. Coleman, of Beaver Dam, was elected President, and Rev. J. C. Maple, of Owensboro, Secretary. Christian Church. — This society was organized in 1860, in the old Masonic lodge-roora, with about fifty membei's, under Rev. A. N. Gilbert, who resided and preached here about six months, when the war came in and interrupted the pastoral succession. About two months after organization they rented an old tlieater hall for some three years, when it had to be given up for a court-room, the court-house being burned. The present eliurdi bnihling of brick) and of a seating capacity of about 500, was erected in 1870-'71. It is on Lewis street, between Fourth and Fifth. Among the first Digitized by Microsoft® 378 HISTORY OF DAVIK8S COUNTY. members were 11 A. Wilhoyt and wife, Mrs. Rebecca Brothnrton, Mrs. Elizabeth Coffey, Wm. Littell, James W. McDonald, Mr. Pruitt, A. a. Botts, Allen Wilhoyt, etc. The first Elder was Mr. Botts, and Deacons, B. A. Wilhoyt and Wm. Littell. The pres- ent ofhcers, Henry Tompkins, Joshua (x. Terrill and J. W. Mc- Donald, Elders, and Wm. Hays, Deacon. Sunday-school at 9:30 a. m.; Prof. A C. Goodwin, Supt. The pastors of this cliurch have been : Revs. A. N. Gilbert, Geo. Taylor, who was here for over two years after the war; W. W. Carter, two years; Alfred N. Flower, two years; B. O. Flower, son of the preceding, six months; Baxter Mayfield, a year; A. N. Gilbert again, six months; and now. Rev. I. G. Tomlinson, from Ijidianapolis, although not employed for a iixed term, is preaching tor this society. He has been a missionary in Japan several years. First Presbyterian Church. — The presbytery of Louisville, at a meeting held at Shelbyville in 1844, appointed a commission to organize a church at Owensboro. In accordance with this decision a church was organized in this city, Nov. 23,1844, by Rev. William L. Breckenridge, of Louisville. There were, at first, six members, as follows: William Bell, John N. Dorsey, Mrs. Mary Anderson, Mrs. Jano Weir, Mrs. Barbara Anthony and James B. Anderson. 0,1 the first iif March, ISiS, James B. Anderson, William Bell and John V. Dorsey were elected Ruling Elders. Subsequently Mr. Dorsey left tlie city and Messrs. John Allen and Wm. A. Bradshaw were chosen Elders. For many years the session was composed of these same four elders. From Min-ch, 1845. to April, 1846, tiic church was supplied by Rev. J E. Smith, of the presbytery of Donegal, who went from here to Bardstown. In September, 1846, Rev. 11. H. Hopkins was called to the church from Shelby County, Ky. He accepted the call, and was installed in January, 184 T, by Rev. D. P. Hum- phrey, now of Louisville, and B. M. llobson. The church at first worshiped in the old court-house, which was a rude structnro, with saw-dust lioor, and rough planks for seats. Tlie congi-egation speedily began to raise funds for the erection of a suitable edifice. In spite of many diificulties the building was completed early in 1850, and is the same as the one at present in use, on Third street. It was formally dedicated to the worship of the Lord, May 12, 1850, by Rev. Mr. Hopkins, the ])astor. The builditig is 40 x 60, of brick, and will seat 350 people. In June, 1845, a meeting was conducted by Rev. Mr. Gray, of Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKO. 370 Henderson, bv which a number of members were added totlie then small congregation, bv profession of faith in Christ. During the extended period of Dr. Hopkins' ministry, the con ii;regation grew in numbers steadily and gradually. Jt was marked by one revival season of more than usual success, extending through April and part of May. IS.iS, at which time many valuable accessions were made to the ehnrch from the outer world. Dr. IIo])kins, in his pastorate, took great pains to inculcate in his followers the principles of true morality and Caristianity, and the moral tone ot his congregation was consequently elevated. His disciplinary belief and teachings were considered rather strict, but his long pastorate of nearly twenty-three years is the best ])0ssib!e evidence of the esteem in whichlie was he'd as a minister of the gospel. He was beloved by all, both those in his church and the citizens generally. Tlie painful events in the history ot this country from 1861 to 18G.5, leading to adivisioji in the Pres- byterian Synod of Kentucky, made it evident that the church would be divided. There were at this time on the roll about 126 members, of whom about eighty'and all the elders, ad all the deacons save one, went to the Southern Assembly, and were organ- ized as the Fourth Street Presbyterian Church. The property ot the church was divided, those adhering to the Northern Assembly retaining the church and name of "First Presbyterian Church." The church secured the services of Rev. .John K. Demare.^t, of Palisades, N. Y., as their regular pastor, and he remained with the congregation until the spring of 1872, when he resigned, to accept a call to New York City. He is at present pi-eaching at Gettysburg, Pa. The church here prospered steadilj' under Mr. Demarest, and parted with him with regret. He was followed, in the succeeding December, by Rev. J. F. Hendy, who came from Vincennes, Ind., and remained with the church until April 1, 1881. Dec. 1 Rev. J. H. Nesbitt, from the Pittsburg Presbytery, was called and took charge of the congregation, which position he now holds. Rev. J. II. Neshltt, now in charge of the First Presbyterian Church of Owensboro, was born in Indiana Cjunty, Pa., Aug. 20. 1834. He received his pr^iparatory literary and classical edu- cation in Saltzburg Academy, in the same county, after which he entered Jefferson College, and graduated with the clas^ of 1858. He studied theology one year in the Theological Sjminary in Allegheny City, Pa., and two years in the Theological Seminary Digitized by Microsoft® iti t.''.iir':i:rM. 111. U{: was lic(-p-('il ro in-caeh, l)\ liio prf^ltytorv of (JlifUlCn, 111 AlD'il, l>>':'\ ,U\d nl iiuil):/. i tO illC t'i;ll \\'< 'vV < 'i' tho <^'(iS- ■;i- i i.iiiii.-trv l)'-tlii,' ~:;i!i<' pi' sii.i'jiy i'.i ( )f-toi)cr, I"'!,)!. Tin' lirst iiirn- \ t';i!-s ("if hi- i,!iiii.-l r'^ w.m-',; siir-n' in li;ir'..i-. iiliisi''!' liiiMiiiic .i- jia-,:'!i- of tlH- ri'cshyicriiiii ciiiii-cji o;' Maciiiul). In ( ).-to!)iT, I-ti'' hi- i'cciMV(Mi anii acrrjili'il a ''.lii '■• lu^voiiu' [/astiJi' or tlic !h-('^i.\-t>>ri;tii chiiT'-h. at. I'Vanktoj-;, K \ .. where, he remaineil iiiiti! the -iiiiDVior of l-i7(i, whui ili hi-aitii ■•oniju.'lh'd hii-i to i-e.-ign, ami refnri! to hi.-^ nal.ive Srate. After a^ ; ear of re.st, lie became |jii>tor <'f .Min^-o church, in the jo-e.sbyrerv of J'itt.sburg', Pa., from which jilace he came to ()\veii-bor. Hicks was elected and ordained an Elder, in November, lS7i. Wm. H. Clark was elected and ordained an Elder in November, 1869. Messrs. Rradshaw, Metcaif, Hicks and Olai'k for a time constituted the session. Afterward Mr. G. Crutcher, Mr. Jolm Wandling, ami C. R. Milne were chosen as Elder*, (^wing to various (;hanges, the session now consists ot Messrs. J.ihn Wandling, C. R. Milne, and W. II. Olark. Dr. Hopkins, on account, of declining health, was obliged to ^ease preaching, and accordingly, in October, ist>',.t, the pastoral relation was severed by the jiresbytcry ot Louisville, at the re- quest of Di-. IIo|ikins. and liev. Mr. Pugii was calied to the pulpit, as above stated. He continue 1 a^* pastor of the church until March S. 1^TT, and his labors were marked by several seasons ot succe^stul re\'i\-als. At the time he left, tlie church roll had risen to 13."). During his pastoi'ate the congregation purchased a com- fortable ])arsoiiage, which he occu|iied during the lattctr jiart of his stay in Owensboro. He went from here to act as pastor of the chnrch at P''ranktbrt, Ky. Rev. J. (1 MoUoy was called to the pnlpit of this church April 22, 1877, and was ordained on the call Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSIiOEO. 381 of the Oweiisboro church in the fall of tlie same year. He was installed Dec. 12, 1S7T, Rev. Stiiart Robinson, D. D., ])reac]iing and charging the pastor, whilst Rev. W. L. Noiirse delivered the charge to the ineniherK. Mr. Molloy was horn in Holly Springs, Miss., Nov. 23, 1855. His father was at thut time banking in Memphis, Tenn., and sliortly after he moved liis family tliere. "Mr. Molloy was lu-oiight u]) in Memphis, attending a private school most of tlie time until the age of seventeen, when he entered the junior class at Stuart College, Clarksville, Teim. He was intended by his father for a lawyer, but chose the ministry in preference, and his father ccm. sented. He graduated at Clarksville in June, 1874, and in August of the same year entered the junior class of Union Theological Seminary at Hampden Sidney, Va., graduating in the spring of 1877. During Ids course he supplied two country ciiurches in Prince Edwards County, Va. On his vacation of 1876, he raised $10,000 of the endowment fund of Bellwood Seminary, at Anchor age, Ky. Mr. Molloy has been twice married, the last time to Missi Laura" Brown, of Shelby County, Ky. During his ministry in Owensboro two revivals of unusual suc- cess have been held, and the membership, in spite of numerous losses by removal, i^ now 167. In October, 1881, work was begun on the new church edifice, which is now under roof It will seat •too persons, and hat. two ante-rooms and two offices. It will cost before completion over $15,000, and it is one of the linest build- ings in this part of the State. The architecture of the cliurch is very modern in style, and is modeled after the English (iothic. The Sundaj'-school connected with the church is in a very j)rus- perous condition, with a membership of 130. The Superintendent is Wm. H. Clark. Oct. 11, 1877, the Presbyterian Synod of Kentucky, in connec- tion with the (xeneral Assembly of that chnrch in the United States, met at the First Presbvterian Church in Owensboro. Tiie opening discourse was delivered by Jonathan Edwards, D. D., or Danville. Rev. [I. H. Allen delivered a remarkabi\ effective aildress on ministerial education. Several f)tlier able disci 'Uiscs wei-e deliverep;i)'''iii)y owing to the fact that this city is .so iar from tlii^ geogi-ajiliicui center of the State, and was com])arativ>>ly inaccessible by railroad. April 11 and 12, 1*^82, the Louisville Pre.-ibytery met in Owensboro. Digitized by Microsoft® 382 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized the fall of 1839 bj Rev. Samuel Calhoon, Alfred Grissom and wife, Mrs. Philip Triplett, James M. Rogers and wife, David Morton and wife, Joseph Weaver and wife, George Newbolt and wife, Mrs. W. W. Chambers, Rev. Samuel Calhoon and wife, Miss E. Griffith, W. R. Ewing and wife, and many others were the first membevs. Alfred Grissom, James M. Rogers, David Morton, and Joseph Weaver were Elders and Trustees. The first religious services were held at the court-house, and ihe old seminary, now a part of the Upper Ward school building. Rev. Samuel Calhoon was the first preacher, and the only one for three or four years, but was never elected as regular pastor. Rev. Hiram A. Hunter, who is now living in Louisville, was the first regularly elected pastor and served about eight years; Rev. George D. McLean, one year; Rev. C. H. D. Harris, one year; Rev. Jesse Anderson, now of Winches- ter, Ky., ten years; Rev. J. W. Poindexter, four years; Rev. William Wilson, one year; Rev. W. H. Steel, one year; Rev. W. H. Berry, one year; Rev. O. C. Hawkins, three years; Rev. B. D. Coekriil, the present pastor, was elected the first of November, 1880. In 184:8 a great n vival was held by Rev. George D. McLean, also in 1868, by Rev. Jesse Anderson, assisted by Rev. J. W. Poindexter; and in March, 188;i, by Rev. R. G. Pearson, the "boy preacher" from Nashville, Tenn., at whicii time there were over 200 professions, and about sixty-tive additions to the congregation. The house of worship was built in 1840, at a cost of about $3,500; size, 75 X 38 feet. The present officers are : Rev. B. D. Oockrill, Pastor; William Shelby, S. R. Ewing, A. M. C. Simmons, S. W. Long, John G. Delker, B. Brantford, Elders; and F. T. Gunther, W. F. Reinhardt, J. W. Marks, and James Murphy, Deacons. The congregation numbers 350. The church is entirely free from debt, and is in a very prosperous condition. In 1850 a Sunday-school was organized, with George Scarborough as Superintendent. The present officers are : T. J. Clarke, Superintendent; A. C. Tomp- kins, Assistant Superintendent; V. T. (iimther. Treasurer; Miss Virgie Payne, Librarian and Secretary; Miss Edna Gates, Assis- tant. There are 180 members enrolled, with an average attend- ance of about 130. In March, 1882, a great union revival, ;>rincipal]y in the Cum- berland Presbyterian and Methodist churches, resulted in 207 con- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKU. 383 versions. The series of meetings was abruptly terminated by the illness of the revivalist,. Rev. Mr. Pearson. Oct. 24--28, 1S7">, the Green River Synod of the Cumberland Prcsbyteriiin Clinrch was held in Owensboro. The synod com prised seven presbyteries, eighty ordained ministers, over 100 churches, hhJ a lay membership of over 15,000. The session here was reuiiirkal'ly liarmonious and fruitful of good results. At this meeting the Ohio Presbytery was divided into two, and important measures were adopted relative to the Greenville Female Institute. Methodist Episcopal. — The beginnings of Methodism are now so far in the past that but few living residents know much about tleni. Among the earliest Methodist preachers here were Richard Neal, a Presiding Elde>-, one of the Downses, John and Daniel T. Pinkston, and Philip Gunn, also a Presiding Elder. The latter was once struck by lightning,which melted all the metallic articles of one side of him and tore his clothes somewhat, without injuring him in the least! It is said that the first Methodist society in Owensboro was formed about 1840. Their meetings were held in the court-house until 1849, when their first church was built, which is now B. L. Duncan & Sons' store, on the north side of Main street. It was erected by J. J. Bowlds, a blacksmith, almost entirely at his own expense. It was used until 1880, when it was sold to Mr. Duncan for $2,000. Its size was forty-eight or fifty feet by seventy-eight, besides a vestibule, which was added sometime subsequent to its first erection. In 1879, Rev. H. C. Settle moved the church toward erecting a commodious house of worship. A building committee, consisting of Dr. W. D. Stirman, T. II. Frayser and R. McJohnston, was ap- pointed. The old church and grounds on Second street were sold for $3,000, and the present site, on the corner of Fourth and Daviess streets, was purchased for $2,550. The plan submitted by Boyd & Brickly, of Evansville, was adopted, and the house was immediately put up, under the superintendence of Captain J. J. Williams. The building is 54 x 90, and fifty feet high, with slate roofing, Gothic finish, etc. Internally the house is beautifully finished. It was dedicated March 20, 1881, by Rev. Dr. Fitzgerald, of Nashville. Total cost of the structure, $13,900 — surprisingly small. Cost of lot, $2,500. Location, near the crossing of Fourth and Da- viess streets. Digitized by Microsoft® 3b4 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. The miuisters since 1848 have been: llichard Holding, S. S. Dcering, T. J. Moore, A. H. Redfield, Hancock and Nathaniel H. Lee, Frank M. English, James I. Ferree, Mr. Kyle, N. 11. Lee, again, A. A. Morrison (now in Denver, Co!.), Dr. Wni. 11. Babcock (now in St. Louii?, Mo. >, 11. Y. Thonias (now in Greenville, Kv.), J.J. Randolph (deceased), R. R. R. Alexander (who afterward died n Louisiana), Uavid Aforton, W. M. Ford, John W. Cunningham (now of the St. Louis Con ference), W. M. Ford, again, H. C. Settle, JoH.ph IJ. Cottrell, H. C. Settle, again, George H. Hayes and S. R. Brewer, the present pastor. In 1850 tliare were tiiirtj'-tive or forty members — only ten of them male; now there are about 360 members. Sunday-school at 9 a, m., with an average attendance of 110, and twenty-two teachers. T. H. Frayser, Superintendent. Third Street Colored {or Africati) Methodist Episcopal Church. — This church was organized many' years ago, by Rev. Dunahy, with twenty-five or thirty members. Met for worship in Megill's HalL The pastors since then liave been Revs. Yocum, Frost, O. B. Ross, Ferguson, Sherman, and the present one is Rev. Tajdor. The membership has increased to 119, and is in a prosperous con- dition. Classdeaders: Dora Henderson and Mr. Humphrey. The church building was erected in 1873; size, 60x30 feet; cost, $16,000; location, near the corner of Third and St. Elizabeth streets. Trinity Church {Protestant Episcopal). — This church was organ- ized a little over a quarter of a century ago, with about a dozen members. The membership has increased to thirty-three; and there is a Sunday-school of about twenty children, superintended by the pastor, assisted by Mr. Latimore. The Rectors which have served this church are: Revs. J. A. Jackson, Bird, Pate, Hubbard, La- trobe, Gibson, Powers, Hall, Claiborne, and the present, Geo. C. Sutton, from Richmond, Va., but a native cff England. Church services were at first held in Masonic Hall, on Fourth street, then in the second story of Dr. Megill's store building. The church next purchased a carpenter shop, with lot, on Frederica street, between Fifth and Sixth, fitted it up neatly and had relig ious services there six or seven years. They then sold this property and invested the proceeds in a very eligible lot of ground on the north side of Fifth street, between St. Elizabeth and Locust streets, whereon, in]1874r-'75, they erected the most tasteful church building in the city. It is 60 x 85 feet in dimensions and has a seating Digitized by Microsoft® OWKNSBORO. 385 capacity of nearly 600. A fine parsonage is located on the lot adjoining west, free from debt. A small debt on the church property still remains. This little society has had many a struggle, hut it has manfully kept up. Present Yestrymen: C. H. Todd, Henry Megill, Daniel M. Griffith,?. T. Watkins, Joseph Slaughter and Robert Dunlop. Evangelical Church. — This oliurch was organized about twelve or fiftCL-n years ago by liev. (i. Schofttle, with probably twelve or fifteen families. Mr. S. went to Ohio in ls77. The pastors since that time have been Revs. Valentin--^ Zimer, in 1^78, who left here f)r Indiana; Ed-vard SchweitzT, 1S79-'81, who also went to In- diana; and the present one. II. F Deters, who has had tlie position since September, 1881. The ehui'ch edifice, about 30 x 40, was erected in 1878. Thire are now about thirty families in this church, and a Sunday-school of about eighty pupils, presided over by the pastor. The church is in a prosperous condition. Rev. H. F. Deter.t was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, in 1856, the son of Henry and Mary (Buchholz) Deters; graduated at Elmhurst Seminary, Du Page County, 111., and in theology at Mathinsville, Mo., in 1881. In 1882 he married Miss Langpaap, a native also of Allamakee ('Ounty, Iowa. Besides holding his present ministerial ))osition, he is also the teacher of German for the public schools of Owensboro, and a member of the Evangelicid Synod of America. Tennple Adath Israel {Hebrew). — The congregation was organ- ized probal)ly two or three years before the war, with about eighteen families; there are now thirty one. The Rabbis have been : Drs. Rosenfeld, Marcosson, Strauss, J. H. Goldhammer, Abraham Myer, Alexander Rosenspitz, and the present inciim bent, J. Glueck, who has been here since February, 1881, and is just engaged for another year. The first religious services were held in the second story of Mr. Moise's store, on East Second street, and afterward in Prof Hart's school building, two year-s. The temple, with a seating capacity of about 200, was built in 1878; is a neat, brick structure, located on Lewis street, between Fourth and Fifth, and cost $4,000. The ])resent Board of Trus- tees comprises Joe Rothschild. President; Sol. Wile, V P.; E. L. Moss, Secretary; M. Levy, Treasurer; A. Reese, J. Wittelshofer, and L. Loeser. Digitized by Microsoft® 386 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. This church has both a Sabbath-school and a Sunday-school — the former meeting 10 to 11 a. m., and the latter 10 to 11:30 A. M. About forty-six children are enrolled, of whom Dr. Glueck is the general instructor. Religious services in the temple are held every Friday evening, and Saturday morning at 9 a. m. The singing is led by a well- drilled choir of ladies; Mrs. Ilartzfeld, Chorister. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XVII. OWENSBORO, CONTINUED. BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. Young Melt's Christian Association. — The first meeting look- ing toward the organization of tlie Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation in Owensboro, was called at the instance of Mr. J. F. Huber, of Louisville, State Secretary of the society. It was held in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, Nov. 1, 1877. At this meet- ing a committee was appointed to solicit funds, and to report at a meeting held the following evening in the same place. At this meeting a permanent organisation was effected. The follow- ing officers were elected: Benj. Bransford, President, and E. G. Buckner, Secretary. The members enrolled at this meeting were : Benj. Bransford, J. F. Ilendy, E. G. Buckner, A. M. C. Simmons, G. W. Towner, J. C. Molloy, O. C. Hawkins, James F. Huber, Robert Brodie and Walter A. Nichols. Meetings were held in the different churches until the society could procure suitable rooms. Their first permanent location was in a room over Higgins's drug store, where they remained one year, removing to Masonic Temple, over the National Bank. Here they met regularly for two years, after which they rented and fitted up their present spacious and pleasant rooms on Freder- ica street, between Third and Fourth streets. The reading-room and library is situated on the first or ground floor, is nicely fitted up for the comfort and convenience of members and visitors, and is open all day and until nine ■ o'clock every evening. The library comprises about 700 volumes, with the addition ot leading daily and weekly journals which are kept on file. The room for devotional exercises, lectures, etc., is situated in the rear of the reading-room. It is furnished with an organ and comfortable chairs. The second floor is used for a ladies' parlor, gymnasium and bath-room. All the conveniencies of the association arc I'ree for the use ot tlie public. Members pay an annual fee of $5, which is used in the support of the institution. The principal source of revenue, however, is (387) Digitized by Microsoft® 388 HISTORV OF DAVIESS COUNTY. from subscriptions. The people of Owens boro have been liberal in their support of the association, $1,600 having been raised in 1S81, and ahont $!)00 in 1882. In 1881 Dr. Tyler was engaged as ScL-retary on a salary of $700 a year, devoting his entire time to the linties of the office. During tKe first three months of 1882 the secretary was paid a salary, since whicli time the office has been an honorary one. The funds raised liave been applied toward paying these salaries, fitting and furnishing the hall, purchasing fxjoks for the library, and in furnishing relief to the needy. Reg- ular business meetings are held monthly devotional exercises every Sunday evening. Besides these the association holds gospel meetings in the jail, and at different places in the suburbs of the ei ty. There are now connected with the organization forty active and fifty-six associate members. Active members must be members in good standing of some evangelical church. The following are the officers for 1883: Jas. H. Parrish, President; E. G. Buckner, Vice-President; J. N. Courtney, Treasurer; W. A. Hester, Eecord- iiig Secretary. Board of Directors — Kobert Brodie, .Prof. A. C. Goodwin, J. D. Kennady, W. F. Reinhardt, Prof. "W. A. Hester, W. B. Arraendt. Nov. 7-10, 1878, the first State Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in the Third Street Presbyterian Church in this city. Addresses of welcome were delivered by Rev. .1 . C. Molloj', James Weir and Rev. J. F. Hendy. It was the occasion of great interest to the people of this vicinity. St. Vincent de Paul Society is a benevolent institution, con- t'tucted under the auspices of the Catholic churcli It was organ- ized in 1880. Its objects are to furnisli provisions, fuel, etc., to the j.oor. It is in active operation during the winter months only, r'\gular meetings being held every Sunday. The place of meeting is St. Stephen's Churcli. The society was started with about forty iiicnihers. M. V Monarch was the first President; Chag. C. Thix- t'.n, Secretary, and R. W. Slack, Treasurer. The offices are per- ];etual, or are relinquished only on the removal or death of the incumbent. The funds expended for relief are raised by private M)bscri]ition among the members, and by the contributors through a j)iite bo.\' in the chnrch vestibule. Only gentlemen are admitted t'l membership It is not a secret organization. Tf" St. JInbertus Bcneoohiiit Society was organized Sept 17 i~-74, with a membership of twenty-seven. It is a German Cath- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKO. 389 ©lie society, being connected with St. Joseph's Church in Owens- boro. Francis Kotnnf and Henry Rose were most active in starting the society, whose purposes are benevolence and care of the sick. The first officers were as follows: Henry Rose, President; Anthony Eger, "Vice-President; Michael Dittman, Secretary; Paul Tennes, Treasurer; F. Komuf, J. Gilles, N. Michel, J. Vollman, William Emler, A. Rose and M. Breitenbach, Trustees. The society was duly incorporated under the laws of Kentucky, Feb. 17, 1875. The membership has increased steadily since the organization, and in spite of numerous losses by death and removal, is now forty- five. The present officers, chosen Oct. 12, 1882, are as follows: Mat. Meyer, President; Jacob Meise, Vice-President; Michael Dittman, Secretary; Michael Schaefer, Corresponding Secretary; Conrad Baumgartner, Treasurer; Henry Meise, Marshal; Sebas- tian Weikel, Flag-bearer; Frank Komuf, William Emler, Michael Dittman, Henry Ross and George Schaefer, Trustees. The regular meetings are held the second Sunday of each month, at St. Joseph's school-house. The society celebrates its anniversary usually by a picnic or some other entertainment. It has been prosperous since its organization and has bright prospects. Con- nected with the society is an insurance scheme, divided into two classes — first class, $500; second class, $1,000. The fees are varied according to the age of the applicant, being $2.50 for a person of twenty-five years, and rising to $10.00 for one between fifty and sixty. There have been no assessments under this plan, as it was only adopted Oct. .12, 1882, since which time there have been no deaths. This life insurance is entirely controlled by the Benevolent Society and is managed by the same officers, who are elected yearly. Branch No. 18, Catholic Knights of America.., was organized Aug. 21, 1878, with sixteen charter members, as follows: Rev. D. F. Crane, Patrick Owen, John D. Scott, Luther F. Cox, Michael Dittman, William Emler, William Pottinger, James S. Pottinger, Jacob BoUman, J. T. Higgins, P. E. Payne, Rev. Peter J. Haisley, C. Baumgartner, Joseph Rose, R. B. Pottingey, and R. W. Slack. The first officers of the branch were as follows: John B. Scott, President; Joseph Rose, Vice-President; William Pot- tinger, Recording Secretary; J. T. Higgins. Financial Secretary; James S. Pottinger, Treasurer; P. E. Payne, S. F. Cox, and Wm. Emler, Trustees; Patrick Owen, Sergeant-at-Arms. The object of the order is insurance, the amount of endowment being $1,000 Digitized by Microsoft® 39(i HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOUNTV. or $2,000. Tlie office of President has been held successively by John B. Scott. R. W. Slack, and John B. Scott. The present offi- cers are as follows: John B. Scott, President; A. Basehart, Vice- President; R. W. Slack. Recording Secretary; J. T. Higgins, Financial SecretHry; A. Eger, Treasurer; Joseph Rose, Sergeant- at-Anns Patrick Owen, Sentinel; George Schaeler, A. Eger, and J. C. Rudd, Trustees. The present membership of the branch is about seventy, and the or^ranization i.s in a prosperous condition, financially and otherwise. Ono endowment of $-2,000 has been paid to John W. Higgins. The branch meets the first and third Sundays of each mo;ith, at their hall on the nortii side I'f Court Squiire. Asher Lodge, No. 227, /. 0. B. B., is a Hebrew benevolent institution, connected with which is aii endoa'ment plan, paying, on the death of any memiier in good standing. $1,000 to lis bene- ficiaries. They also pay sick benefits, and an assessment toward the maintenance of a district urpjian asylum. Lodge No. 227 was organized Oct. 25, 1874, with twenty members. The first officers were: Jos. Rothchild. Sr., President; M. Moise, Vice-President; Ernest Weill. Secretary; B. Baer. Treasure)-; Sol. Wile, Monitor; A. Rosenfeld, Assistant Monit ir; L. Lesser, Guardian; M. Levy, Warden. Regular meetings are held the second and fourth Suu days in each month, intlie room over the Jevfish Temple. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, having over $500 in the treasury and a memb Tship of twenty-eight. Its officers are: S. Moise, Presi- dent; J. M. Oppcnheinur, Secretary; B. Baer, Treasurer. An annual assessment of $15 is made upon each member, to pay run- nin>; expenses, sick benefits, endo>vments. etc. They are within the jurisdiction of District No. 2, comprising the States of Ohio, Indiana, Kc tucky, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. The hea Iquaiter.s of the district is at Cincinnati. Tiiey have a sul•}>llJ^ fii"(l oT .^112,000, wliieii is drawn upon to pay benefits or eiidcwnients for any lodge in the district whose per capita assess- ment "f ^15 docs not cover tiie amount required. The order origi:;afeil in lS4t5 or IS47, and has become one of the .stroni^cst ami \i\ o.t ])oiiiiiar benevolent institutions in the country. 'I'lie Fiiid:) Bvnci'''lent Society, No. 2, was organi.'^ed in the wiiiur ol' l.-:^7tj '7, '-vitli a membership of about twenty-five. Tito first I'residont was 11. ('. Helm, and the first Secretary was A. Ben-v. Tiie soeiety i.s not a secret one, and its objects are benev- o!e)M'e ai'd .sociability. ( 'olored people between the ages of tweiro Digitized by Microsoft® 0WEN8BOR0. 891 and forty- five are eligible to inembersliip. Tlie organization has prospered steadily in its membership, gradually increasing from twenty-five to nearly 400. The present officers are as follows: Mr. Pickrum, President; Robert Crump, Secretary; Thomas Crump, Treasurer. The society meets at the public school-house in Owens- boro, the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Occasional entertainments have been gi\'en by the society since its organiza- tion. The Ladies' Hebrew Benevolent Society in Owensboro was established in 1869. It was oru;anized by the ladies of the Jewish church. Its mission is to furnish relief to the poor of their church, and others. The fund for this purpose is obtained by an assess- ment of annual dues upon the members of the society. Mrs. A. flosenfeld was the first President; Mrs. J. A. Godshaw (now deceased), the first Secretary, and Mrs. T. Moise, Treasurer. The officers for 1882 were Mrs. B. Baer, President; Mrs. A. Eosenfeld, Secretary; Mrs. T. Moise, Treasurer. Regular meetings are held quarterly. The present membership is twenty-one. None but ladies are admitted to membership. The society, though not a chartered one, is one of the fixtures of the place, and has done a great deal to alleviate suff'ering among the needy, and its influence for good has been felt in man}' ways by the members of their con- gregation. Stephen F. Ogden Lodge, No. 356, A. F. i& A. M., was char- tered Oct. 13, 1858, by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. The charter is signed by Philip Swigert, Grand Master; Robert Morris, Deputy Grand Master; 11. F. "Wilson, Senior Grand* Warden, and J. M. S. McCorkle, Grand Secretary, and the instrument is dated at Lexington. The lodge was named after Stephen F. Ogden, a prominent Mason, father of Dr. John D. Ogden. He had filled all the offices in the lodge and chapter (there was then no com- mandery in this section of the country), at the time of his death. The charter members of Ogden Lodge numbered fourteen. The first Master of the lodge was William Bell, and the first Senior Warden WHS Henry Hart. The membership rapidly increased, and numbered about thirty at tlie opening of the war. At this time many of the members went into the army, and by 1866 there were but eight or ten members left. During that year the lodge was dissolved by the Grand Lodge, and all tlie books and papers were surrendered. No steps were taken toward reorganization until Oct. 24, 1872, when, under an order from the Grand Lodge, their charter was Digitized by Microsoft® 392 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. returned, the old number returned, and the members instructed to meet for reorganization. According to these instructions a meet- ing vras held Dec. 30, 1872, and, as recommended by the Grand Lodge, John D. Ogden was elected W. M. ; Wm. Sharpe, S. W., and Abraham F. Berryman, J. W. Their first regular meeting after reorganization wiis held Jan. 11 , 1873. The lodge meets the fourth Monday in each month, in Masonic Temple. The present officers are: John D. Ogden, W. M.; James A. Willhite, S. W. ; and Frank T. Gunther, J. W. It numbers thirty members, and is in a healthy condition. Owensboro Lodge, No. 130. A. F. <& A. M., is the oldest existing lod^e in the countv, and the second one established within ita limits. When organized there had been no lodge in the county for a period of nine years, its only predecessor, Woodson Lodge, No. 92, having forfeited its charter in 1834. A number of those who were instrumental in starting this institution had been members ot the old Woodson Lodge. They first commenced under a dispensa- tion from the Grand Lodge, April 10, 1843, in the court-house in Owensboro. They were not chartered until Aug. 29 of the same year. Their first officers under the charter were as follows: Hiram A. Hunter, W. M.; William C. Norris, S. "W.; Adam Simp- son, J. W. ; James L. Johnson, Secretary; S. S. Heath, Treasurer. The charter is signed by L. M. Cox, G. M^ ; B. R. Young, D. G. M.; T. Halloway, S.G. W.; M. B. Allen, J. G. W. The lodge met in the court-house until the erection, in about 1850, of a hall at the corner ol Fourth and St. Elizabeth streets, which was sub- sequently sold and is now used as a private residence. Their next place of meeting was in Court Hall, now used by the Odd Fellows. They remained in this building until the formation of a stock- company for building a Masonic Temple, of which they became members, and in which they now hold their meetings on the fourth Monday in each month. This temple was built in 1872, in con- junction witli the First National Bank. It comprises the third story of the building situated on the corner of Third and Frederica streets. Tlie several Masonic organizations of the city united in forming the stock-company. The rooms are commodious and nicelv furnished. The present membership of this lodge is. fifty-one. The officers for 1882 were: B. E. W. Stout, W.M.; N. O. Ford, S. W.; D. R. Gash, J. W.; R. W. Littell, Secretary; John Wand- ling, Treasurer. Digitized by Microsoft® OWBN8BORO. 393 Jo Daveits Chapter, JVo. 32, was tirst organized under a special dispensation granted Jan. 17, 1848, by Willis Stuart, G. H. P. The first meeting was held Feb. 2, 1848. William A. Seaton, P. H. P., and William A. Barton, H. P., of Western Star Chapter, No. 20, of Hardinsburg, were the instituting officers. An election of ofiicers at that meeting resulted in the salection of the following: Hiram A. Hunter, H. P. ; John Daveiss, K. ; Jas. J. Bowlds, S.; John D. Ogden, C. H.; Philip Triplett, P. S.; Stephen F. Ogden, K. A. C; R. G. Gardner, G. M. 3d V.; J. H. McFarland, G. M. 2d v.; Wm. C. Norris, G. M. 1st V.; Stephen F. Ogden, Sec; John H. McFarland, Treas.; Samuel Haynes, Tyler. The chap- ter was granted a charter Aug. 31, 1848. The iirst meeting held under the charter convened Sept. 30, 1848, when an election was held, with the following result : Hiram A. Hunter, H. P.; William W. Chambers, K; Barnard Trible, S. ; Benjamin EI. Ogden, C. H. ; John J. Daveiss, P. S. ; James D. Bowlds, R. A. C. ; Joseph McCleary, G. M. 3d V.; John H. McFarland, G. M. 2d V. ; William C. Norris, G. M. 1st Y. ; Stephen F. Ogden, Sec. ; Philip Trip- lett, Treas.; John Duveiss, Chaplain; Wm. Y. Sharp, Marshal; E. Murray, S. and T. The chapter meets the first Monday in each month, at Masonic Temple. Owensboro Commandery, No. 15, K. T., was organized April 15, 1872, with nine charter members, as follows : J. PI. Branham, Eminent Commander; M. B. Swain, Generalissimo; R. M. Hatha- way, Captain-General; Rev. C. 0. Cliaplin, Prelate; Jolui Wand- ling, Senior Warden; J. Q. A. Stewart, Junior Warden ; Rev. John W. Pugh, Recorder; Salem H. Ford, Warder; Henry Megill, Gap tain of the Guard. The offices after the several names are those to which the members were respectively elected at the organiza- tion. The office of Eminent Commander has been held by J. H. Branham, April, 1872, to August, 1873; R. M. llatliaway, August, 1873, to August, 1874; Salem H. Ford, August, 1874, to April. 1875; John Wandling, April, 1875, to April, 1876; J. Q. A. Stewart, April, 1876, to April, 1878; John D. Ogden, April. 187s, to April, 1882; E. G. Buckner, April, 1882 (present incumbeiiti. The present officers of the commandery are as follows : E. (I. Bnckner, Eminent Commander; John Wandling, Generalissimo; J.J. Sweeney, Captain-General; L. W. Marble, Prelate; K. -i. Clarke, Senior Warden; F. D. Gunther, Junior Warden; P. T. Watkins, Treasurer; J. C. Wandling, Recorder; Henry Megill, Standard-Bearer; J. S. Bottenweiser, Sword-Boarer: N. Mclntyre, Digitized by Microsoft® ?x94 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUITIT. AVarden; W. jST. Mason. Guard. The present membership of the Owensboro Comiuandery is thirty-four. The stated conclaves oc- cur reg'ilarly the third Monday of each month. Guiding Star Lodge, JVo. 14, A. I* . d; A. M. (colored), was organized in 1S79, witli about ten members and the following officers: Thomas Tyler, W M. ; O. K. Barrett, S. W. ; Alfred Buckuer, J. W; George Alexander, S. D.; Charles Jones, J. D.; Nestor McFarlaiid, Chaplain; Phocion Fields, Secretary; William McFarland, Treasurer; Lewis R. Saulsbury, Tyler. There are now thirty-two members, with the following officers: Alfred Biick- ner, W. M. ; George Alexander, S. AV.; Elder McFarland. J. W.; PliMcian Fields, S. D.; Lewis Saulsbury, J. D. ; Wm. Jackson, Secretary; Wm. Bailey, Treasurer. Place of meeting, over the Deposit Bank. Owensboro Encampment, No. 45, /. 0. 0. F , was instituted June 18, 1870, with eleven members, as follows : George Brown, W. W. Chambers, Woodson Fletcher, P. II. Brown, O. S. AVarner, J. G. Delker, J. H. Jones, John A. Brown, IST. B. Allen, J. B. Al- exander, and J. W. Allen. The iirst officers chosen at the institu tion of the encampment were as follows: George Brown, C. P. O. S. Warner, 11. P.; J. W. Allen, S. W.; N. B. Allen, J. W.; J. G. Delker, Scribe; W. W. Chambers, Treasurer; J. B. Alexander, Guide; P. H. Brown, Sentinel. Although fourteen years elapsed between the dissolution of the Magnolia Encampment and the formation of Owensboro Encampment, several members of the former joined the latter, and some are still living. The present membership of the encampment is forty-six. No meetings were held from the latter part of 1880 until Nov. 24, 1882, when the following officers were continued : B. Baer, C. P. ; J. H. Fisher, H. P. ; Godfrey Arnold, S. W. ; Michael Carey, J. W. ; R. W. Littell, Scribe; J. H. Fisher, Treasurer; R. Hickman, Guide; P. H. Brown, Sentinel. The regular meetings of the encampment are held every Friday evening, at Odd Fellows' Hall. Magnolia Encampment, No. 20, I. O. O. F., was organized about 1851, at the time Daveiss Lodge was flourishing. It kept up with a membership of ten to fifteen until December, 1866, when its charter was surrendered, from lack of interest in the work. Daveiss Lodge, No. 61, /. 0. 0. E., was organized Aug. 29, 1849, with a membership of iifteen or twenty. The first Noble Grand was O. S. Wilson; ATice-Grand, R. A. Bell; Treasurer, George W. Triplett; Secretary, F. W. Watkins. The lodge was Digitized by Microsoft® 0WKN8B0R0. 395 prosperous for a time, and was in existence over seven years. In December, 1856, its charter, as well as that of the encampment, was surrendered, being taken to the Grand Lodge at Louisville by James Littell. Lack of interest is the only reason that can be assigned for the death of the lodge, as there were twenty-live or thirty members. Brothei's' Lodge No. 132, /. 0. 0. F., was organized Aug. 28, 1856, by authority of u charter from tin: Grand Lodge of Kentucky, dated July 18, 1866, witii the following charter mem- bers: John J. Ddvis, James Littell, G. W. Triplett, R. G. Moorman, E. S. Ayres, W. W. Chambers, N. 0. Leaman, N. B. Allen, Eli Adams, George N. McKay and P. H. Brown. The iirst officers were as follows: N. B. Allen, N. G.; li. G. Moorman, V. G.; James Littell, Treasurer; John J. Davis, Secretary; Eli Adims, Host; P. H. Brown, I. G. ; N. C. Leaman, R. S. N. G.; Thomas H. Pointer, L. S. N. G.; W. H. Lea.nan, R. S. \^. G.; James A. Scott, R. S.S.; James G. Thomason, L. S. S.; F.L. Hall, Conductor; E. S. Ayres. The lodge has steadily grown and prospered since its organization, and is now one of the strongest lodges in tiiis part of the State. Itownshalf of the brick block known as "Court Row." 'The present membership in good standing is about 126. The present officers, chosen in July, 1882, are as follows: J. A. Wilhite, S. P. G.; R. W. Littell, N. G.; H. A. Duncan, Y. G. ; J. W. Car- ter, Recording Secretary; W. G. Burnett, Permanent Secretary; W. "W. Chambers, Treasurer; William Mandel, Host and L G.; J. H. Fisher, R. S. to N. G. ; E. R. Ford, L. S. to N. G.; E. Weill, R. S. to V. G.; J. H. Axton, L. S. to V. G. ; James Littell, War- den; Phil. R. Zulauf, Conductor; R. R. Hickman, R. S. S.; Wood- son Fletcher, L. S. S.; George Brown, District Deputy. Tiie lodge meets every Friday night at its lodge room in Court Row. Grand United Lodge, No. 1M%1- 0. C>. i''. (colored), was organ- ized in September, 1878, with about eighty members Richard Vairian, Noble •F'ather; John Swain, Noble Grand; Charles Jack- son. Permanent Secretary. The place of meeting has been uni- formiv at their lodge room over the Deposit Bank. The present membership numbers 100 or more, and the lodge in every re- spect is in a very flourishing condition. They have a $30 banner, and their regalia cost $300. Present oflScers: John Swain, Noble Father; Alfred Woods, Noble Grand; Samuel Curd, Vice Grand; Charles Henderson, Permanent Secretary; Robert Crump, E. S. Digitized by Microsoft® 396 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Star Lodge, No. 19, Knights of Pythias, was organized Aug. 29, 18Y2, by Vice Grand Chancellor James Cimninujhain and seven members from Ivanlioe Lodge, No. 9, at Calhoon, McLean County. The charter members were eighteen in nnmber, as follows: D. A. Wilson, E. C. Davis, John W. Pngh, J. A. Fuqua,Ed. G. Bnclresent officers are: W. H. Owen. President; C. K. Lehrbcrg, Secretary and Treasurer. This organization pays endowments of $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000, as the member prefers. Owensbo-ro Council, No. 34, was chartered Nov. 14, 1860. The applicants for a charter were J. G. Griffin, Henry Megill, H. P. Hart, J. J. Daveiss, J. Delahnnt, Lonis Weber, C. N. S. Taylor, W. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 397 W. Chambers and others. The first officers as appointed by the Grand Council were as follows: J. G. Griffin, T. I. G. M. ; C.N. S. Taylor, D. T. I. G. M.; H. P. Hart, P. C. W. The charter was signed by Phillip Sweigart, G. P., and A. G. Hodges, G. li., and was executed at Frankfort, Ky. Some few years ago all the coun- cils were suspended by enactment of the Grand Lodge, the inten- tion being to dispense with that branch of the Masonic order. The council in Owensboro was sustained until abolished by this enactment. Order of Foresters. — A society of this order was organized in this city Dec. 25, 1877, with about sixty members, which number increased to eighty. Object, mutual insurance, etc., similar to the A. O. U. W. Dr. C. C. Lewis was the instigator of the movement here. Henry P. Tompkins was Chief Kanger. The society paid one assessment, and in about eighteen months died. Sons of Temperance. — A lodge of ibis order was organized in Owensboro in the fall of 1846. A. G. Munn, Grand Worthy Pa- triarch, of Louisville, was the instituting officer. There were but ten or twelve charter members, of which the following is a partial list: Geo. Scarborough, S. M. Moorman, Geo. N. McKay, Richard McKay, Frank L. Hall, Wm. B. Wall, Finley W. Wall, Joseph Mills, Kidgley Griffith. The society convened in the second story of an old frame building that stood on the ground now occupied by McCuUough's Hotel. The lodge was short-lived. During the first year of its existence it flourished finely, and swelled its member- ship to over 150. They had numerous street parades and other public demonstrations in 1847 and 1848. After the last named year, owing to the withdrawal of some of the leading pirits and a general absence of interest by those who had grown tired of the routine of lodge business, the attendance diminished and it was finally voted to surrender the charter, having been in exist ence but little over three years. As near as we can learn, the first Worthy Patriarch was Geo. Scarborough, followed by S. M. Moor- man. The first Conductor was Eidgley Moorman, who was suc- ceeded by Frank L. Hall. Temple of Honor. — This is a secret temperance society of a very @ high grade, which grew out of the order of Sons of Temperance many years ago, dating its independent existence in 1846. Very shortly after that date a lodge was organized in Owensboro, which flourished until the war, having a membership at one time of as many as fifty. Their ritual was beautiful and their discipline Digitized by Microsoft® 398 HISTORY UF DAVIESS ColNTY. Strict. They hail regalia, and indulged in public demonstrations occasionally. The members were called •' Templars of Honor." We appu-nd here a list of the members we tind on the record ot 1848 : E.T. Allen, Jas. A. Haggard, Geo. N. McKay, E. G. Cannon, Fieldon B. Meek, Rev. A. H. Triplet!, John T. Sebastian, John 1 . Tracy, Geo. D McLean, Jas. M. Holmes, Eli as Barker, James Lackey, Rev. R. G. Gardiner, J. Littell, James W. Mahon. W. N. Mason, E. S. Marks, .las. J. Bowlds, Jas. J. Marks, W. T. Courtney, James Barnes, F. Lockett Hall, A. B. Johnston, Elisha Baker, E S. McMannon, John Jackson, James W. Caniiou, Rev. D. V. Kirtley, Samuel S. Heath, Geo. H. Hudson, K. G. Moorman, Geo. W. Tripletl, Joseph Mills, W. B. Wall, John J. McFarhmd. R. P. Aull, Gtorge Marks, Samuel Wallace, John Summers, Erasmus Ford, William Prulzman, S )lomon Kigel, O. S. Wilson, Most of the above names will appear familiar to the citizens of Daviess County, but very few of the parties are residing here now. Good Tem.plars. — The first lodge in Owensboro was organized about the first of March, 1868, as " Purity Lodge, No. 43," with R. W. McFarland as W. C. T.; Miss Kate McLean, W. V. T.; Rev. W. C. Settle, Lodge Deputy; Philander Read, Treasurer. The membership at first was thirty to thirty-five, wliicli rose to seventy-five or eighty at the height of their prosperity. Meetings were held weekly, but zeal in attendance diminished considerably, until the following re-organization was effected. Onward Lodge, I. 0. G. T., No. 620, was organized about 1870, by Gr. W. C. T. J. J. Hickman, with about fifty members. Geo. W. Mathis, W. C. T. ; Miss Mary Parrish, W. V. T. ; C. B. Mitchell, Lodge Deputy, etc. This society grew so large in a short time that the next mentioned, Spartan Lodge, I. O. G. T., was organized, in 1872, with about forty members, which increased in a short time to about sixty-five or seventy ; but the attendance finally dwindled so low that some years ago its charter was surrendered. Onward Lodge reached a membership of over 300; and, although it has not met for about two years, it still holds its charter. Ths Younger Brothers of Temperance was a society of youth, originally under the auspices of the Sons of Temperance, andkey>t in working order for several years. It accomplished a magnificent work. Nearly all who were members are now men forty to forty- five years of age. During the days of "their greatest prosperity, L P. Washburne published and C. B. Mitchell edited a weekly Digitized by Microsoft® 0WEN8B0R0. 399 temperance paper called the Fountain Journal, and devoted to temperance principles generally. It was a folio of five or six eighteen-incli columns to the page. Women Temperance Workers. — This society was organized in February, 1882. It was instigated by a call published in the city papers, signed by Mrs. James "Weir, Mrs. Bailey Todd, and Mrs. Baker Boyd, asking the ladies of the town to meet and organize for temperance work. The object of this society was to promote the interest of temperance generally, and especially to enforce Sunday liquor laws. The first meeting was held at the rooms ot the Y. M. C. A. ; thirty members were present. Mrs. Dr. E. H. Luckett was elected President; Mrs. Bailey Todd, Vice-President; Mrs. Baker Boyd, Secretary, and Miss Hettie Hughes, Treasurer. The enforcement of Sunday laws was not to incite the antipathy of any non-Puritan sect, but to secure to the working-man's family the result of his labors, by removing the possibility of his spend- ing his week's wages at an open saloon or rendezvous on Sunday. In March, 1882, they presented a largely signed petition to the Council, who, by vote, decided to enforce the " Sunday Law," and the Mayor issued a proclamation accordingly. One saloon remained open for a test case. This society took thef matter up, employed counsel, prosecuted under the State law, and fined saloons outside of city limits. Regular meetings of the society are held at the rooms of the Y. M. C. A. The interest in the work is constantly increasing. Funds are raised by entertainments and subscriptions, and used as the society may direct — principally for attorneys' fees in prose- cuting cases where the Sunday law has been violated. Meetings are held for prayer and reading of Scriptures. Owensboro Fountain, No. 13, Younger Brothers of Temper- ance, was organized in 1847. The order was a State institution, conducted under the auspices of the Sons of Temperance. It admitted to membership boys and youths from twelve to eighteen years of age. ^he society in this city lived but a few years, but during its existence did much good in molding the habits of the youth of this community. The first officers were: George Scar- borough, Elder Brother; George Sebastian, Presiding Brother; John J. McFarland, Secretary. Stewart Lodge, No. 50, A. 0. U. W., was organized March 23, 1877, by J. F. Pearson, of Louisville, D. D. G. M. "W., with a charter membership of sixty-three. The first officers were as fol- Digitized by Microsoft® 400 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. lows: "VC. T. Ellis, P. M. W.; J. Q. A. Stewart, M. W. ; W. G. Burnett, F.; J. W. Slaughter, O.; W D. Osborne, Kecorder; G. W. Coifey, Financier; Isaac Kqnnady, Receiver; "W. J. Lucas, I. W.; J. F. Douglas, O. W.; Wm. H. Owen, Guide; W. H. Owen, A. J. Turpin and James Kennady, Trustees; James Kennady, District Deputy. The lodge was at first called Anchor Lodge, but Apiil 7, 1877, this name was dropped, on account of there being another lodge in the State called Anchor Lodge, and it was named Stewart Lodge, in honor of the first presiding officer. Dr. J. Q. A. Stewart, now in Frankfort as Superintendent of the Institution for the Feeble-Minded. The office of Master Workman has been held by Dr. J. Q. A. Stewart, J. W. Carter, J. H. McHenry, James Ken- nady; J. W. Slaughter and D. R. Gash. The lodge has at present a membership of twenty. The present officers, chosen in July, 1882, are as follows: J. W. Slaughter, P. M. "W. ; James Ken- nady, M. W. ; J. Y. Kruse, Foreman ; P. T. Watkins, Guide; J. F. Harrison, Overseer; W. D. Osborne, Recorder; G. "W. Coffey, Financier; Isaac Kennady, Receiver; D. R. Gash, I. W.; J. Goodapple, O. W. ; J. W. Slaughter, Representative to Grand Lodge. The lodge meets every Thursday evening, at the office of Colonel J. H. McHenry. J. H. McHenrj and JamesKen- nady are officers in the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. The United Brothers of Friendship, No. 7, was organized in the winter of 1866 '7, with a charter membership of about twenty-five. It is a secret order confined to colored men. Among the first members were William Moreton, Sandy Alexander, Albert Jackson and Wesley Troutman. The object of the order was at first benevolence, but now insurance is combined with the working 0 the lodge. The limit of insurance is $3,000. The society has prospered, owning now $4,000 worth of property, and its member- ship now amounts to eight}', in good standing. The present officers: H. C. Helm, Master; Terry Howard, Deputy Master; Wm. Griffith, Secretary; Currier Valentine, Assistant Secretary; Albert Jackson, Treasurer; John Garnet, John ISTepp, George Al. exander, Robert Daws and Pat Taylor. The society meets the first and third Mondays of each month, at their hall. The Little United Brothers of Friendship was organized about 1872, with about fifteen members. It is a society composed of colored boys, and is under the control of the United Brothers of Friendship. It has now about sixty members in good standing. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 401 Si. Johnson is the President; Levi Bartlett, Vice President; Rob- ert Sherman, Secretary; John Nepp, Treasurer. The society meets twice a month, the second and fourth Mondays. The Little United Sisters of Friendship is immediately under the direction of the United Sisters. It was organized in August, 1881, and at the present time has over fifty members. It meets twice a month, at the hall of the United Brothers. The United Siiters of Friendship is a secret order among the colored ladies of Owensboro. U. B. F. Temple, No. 8, was or. ganized about 1868, with a membership of fifteen or twenty. It is under the direction of the United Brothers of Friendship, but holds separate meetings. Its objects are benevolence and socia- bility, and life insurance, limited to $1,500. The present mem- bership is over 300, and the prospects of the society are very bright. The presiding officer is denominated Princess, and is at present Mrs. Lizzie Daws; the Secretary is Mrs. Annie Yerrin. The society meets at the U. B. F. Hall, the first and third Tues- day night of each month. Yost Lodge, No. 2,525, k. of H., was instituted June 23, 1881, by Colonel "W. H. Yost, of Greenville, Ky., District Deputy Grand Dictator, in honor of whom the lodge was named. Nineteen per- sons composed the first membership, although about thirty-five had signed the application for a charter, several of whom were subsequently admitted as charter members, by virtue of a dispen- sation having been granted for that purpose. The first officers were: Lawson Reno, Past Dictator; Malcolm Mclntyre, Dic- tator; M. H. Webber, Yice- Dictator; R. D. Bailey, Assistant Dictator; H. L. Cambridge, Reporter; N. S. Roark, Financial Reporter; A. B. Miller, Treasurer; 0. F. Smith, Chaplain; Silas McClung, Guide; T. D. Gibson, Guardian; G. W. Hildebrant, Sentinel; J. D. Powers, E. G. Buckner, William H. Murphy, Trustees; Dr. A. C. Haynes, Medical Examiner. Yost Lodge was organized in the hall of the Masonic Temple, and for a few weeks held its stated meetings in that hall; but since then has occupied Odd Fellows Hall, corner of St. Ann and Third streets. The lodge had a steady growth, and at the end of six months numbered forty-three members, showing the largest increase dur- ing the time of any lodge in the State, according to the official report of J. A. Demaree, Grand Reporter. The principal officers were re-elected for the second term, and under their administra- tion the society continued to prosper, until at the close of one year 26 Digitized by Microsoft® 402 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. it numbered sixty-three members in good standing, again showing the largest increase in membership of any lodge in the State. Since that time the lodge has hardly maintained its hitherto enviable reputation as the "Banner Lodge," and at the close of December, 1882, her roll-book contained only sixty members in good stand- ing. The January term, 1883, commences under favorable auspices, on a solid financial footing, with money in the treasury, and an efficient corps of officers, chief of whom are A. E. Reese, Dictator; J. M. Oppenheimer, Vice-Dictator; W. N. Oatlen, Reporter; B. Rosenthal, Financial Reporter; Dr. C. H. Todd, Medical Examiner. During a period of more than nineteen months there has been no depletion of membership by death, and only four have been on the sick list. The lodge pays a sick benefit of ,$5 per week during the illness of members in good standing, and during its organization has paid out in weekly benefits about 1150. Harmonic Lodge, No. 114, D. 0. H., was organized June 14, 1865, with seven members and the following officers : A. Miller, C. Green, A. Steitler, V. Present officers are A. Schaid, E. B.; E. Seelen, O.B. ; James Schmitt, tf. B. ;r. Sommer, President- George Unsa, Secretary. Present membership, forty-six. Meetings are held on Tuesday night at Harigari Hall. This is a benevolent society. General James S. Jackson Post, No . 3, Grand Army of the Re- public, was mustered Feb. 6, 1882, at Odd Fellows' Hall, Owens- boro, with a membership of thirty-seven. The post was mustered by PostCommander Colonel W. H. Keller, of Evansville. The offi- cers chosen at that time, and who are still acting at this writing, are as follows : J. H. Fisher, Commander; E. B. Allen, Senior Yice-Commander; B. F. Meredith, Junior Vice-Coinmander; Dr. J. F. Kimbley, Surgeon; J. D. Wilson, Officer of the Day; W. C. Moreton, Adjutant; J. A. Brown, Quartermaster; J. M. Wliite- head. Chaplain. The post lias rapidly increased in membership, liaving now over eighty comrades, from all parts of Daviess County. It meets every Monday niglit, at Odd Fellows Hall. C. II- Todd Conclave, No. 8, of Heptasophs, or Seven Wise Men, was organized in Owensboro, in March, 1878. It was a secret order, having its origin in New Orleans, and growing up as sud- denly as a mushroom in the niglit. Its numbers in Owensboro, in the course of eight weeks, grew to 200, comprising many of the best men of the place. The chief object of the association was Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 403 mutual insurance. Meetings were lield weekly, but in about a year it died out, and there is not now an affiliating member in Owensboro. SOCIAL AND MISCELLANEOUS OEGANIZATIONS. Bachelors' Club. — A society by this name was organized in Ow- ensboro several years ago, with constitution, by-laws and officers; but, although social entertainments are still occasionally given in their name, the club as a definite organization is probably more mythical than real. The young men of the city, as a bachelors' club, give annual hops during the agricultural fair; and the annual business meetings which the old organization is supposed still to hold, are very spicily written up by the Post. The«pian Society. — This dramatic company flourished about 1856-'8. The star actor was Henry E. Smith, who played as Claude Melnotte in " Lady of Lyons," Oct. 5, 1857, which was the first play of the company. Other actors were Dr. James Conway, John O'Brien, Dora Shaw and Mrs. Libby — ail professionals. About these times Sallie St. Clair, who has since married Lawrence Bar- rett, fulfilled engagements here as Lucretia, Camille, etc. In 1867 another dramatic amateur company was formed here, composed entirely of home talent. Kosa Pope was the star. The Economical Social Club took the lead in the winter of 1874 -'5, in giving hops, etc. M. H. Q. — This was a society of a dozen lads, organized about two years ago, for social enjoyments. The signification of the initials of their name is not public. Robert Pottinger, Jr., was President; Eugene Pattinger, Vice-President; Wm. Lancaster, Secretary, and Charles Elder, Treasurer. They had dances and a* great deal of sport, but the organization, as such, is now practically abandoned. The Monarch Rifles, a military company formed under the State laws of Kentucky, was organized Oct. 16, 1879, with upward of forty members. The first officers were S. H. Ford, Captain ; Austin Berry, First Lieutenant; G. Y. Triplett, Second Lieutenant. The non-commissioned officers comprised four Corporals and four Sergeants. Their first meetings were held in the City Hall and sub- sequently in the court-house, under the provisions of a law requiring counties to permit the use of such buildings for the accommodation of State military companies. Soon, however, they felt the need of more spacioas and exclusive quarters, and removed to their present Digitized by Microsoft® 404 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. location, known as Armory Hall, on the river, between Frederlca and St. Ann streets. The room is 80x160 feet, and is considered one of the finest and largest in the State, being second only to the quarters of the Lonisville company. Regular business meetings of the company are held the first Tuesday in every month, and meet- ings for regular drill on Friday evening of each week. They have dress and fatigue uniforms. Their arms are the United States improved Springfield breech-loaders. Their camp equipments are very complete, from tents to utensils. This company holds the bannergiven by the Adjutant-General for the highest average dress inspection of any company in the State. They went into camp in the summer of 1881, at the fair grounds in Owensboro, and in the fall of the same year attended the centennial celebration of the sur- render of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. Following is a list of the. names of members in attendance at the celebration: Captain S. H. Ford; Lieutenants Austin Berry and G. V. Trip- lett; Sergeants Armendt, Chisom, Ford and Watkins; Corporals Haney, Hickman, Gentry and Guenther; Privates Johnny Allao, Louis Baer, John Bishop, Wm. Binion, Lonis Carter, Oscar Cot- trell, Arthur Ford, Fred Gipe, John Gray, David Graves, J. J. Hill, Kelly, J. W. Maddox, J. L.Maddox, Harmon Miller, Geo. Milne, Wm. Eudd, Jerry Small, Edgar Troutman, Ben Wile, Hugh Williams, Jas. Whitehead, John Wilhoyte, George Zinsaud Frank Wecker. In the summer of 1882, Captain Ford, who was instrumental in organizing the company, and to whose efforts is largely due its present prosperous condition, resigned. Its present commissioned officers are: Austin Berry, Captain ; W. B. Armendt, First Lieu- tenant; C. F. Kelley, Second Lieutenant. There are now between forty and fifty members. Musical. — A brass band was organized in the city in 1858, and led by Prof Buck, for a year or two. The " Combination Sitver Cornet Band" of 1872 was under the leadership of Prof Frauk Brewer. O. D. Read was President and Wm. Reinhardt Secretary of this band. The "Frohsinn Singing Society," German, gave entertainments in the winter of 1874:-'5. Besides the foregoing, there have been numerous smaller or transient associations, as singing societies, music bauds, debating clubs, base-ball clubs, guilds, etc., etc. Digitized by Microsoft® 0WEN8B0R0. 405 CEMETERIES. The first burying ground for Owensboro was on Fourth street, south of the public square, and in the vicinity of tlie old " Masonic Lodge" building. It extended west to St. Elizabeth street. Most of the dead who were buried there still remain. In 1840 the place of burial was changed to a point on the Henderson road, just beyond the city limits. Most of the remains buried here have been removed. Paupers, however, are still bur.ed in this ground. In 1852 the cemetery was moved to the southeastern portion of the city, comprising the ground between Triplett and Center streets, and Fourtli and Sixth. All the dead buried here have been re- moved. These grounds were owned by a company of stockholders, and controlled by a directory. The first two spoken of above were owned and controlled by the city. Eimwood Cemetery. — In the year 1856. seeing the necessity for a cemetery, a company of the citizens of Owensboro was formed, composed of William Bell, James Weir, R. M. Hathaway, George Scarborough, D. ' M. Gritfith, F. M. Pearl, J. B. Anderson, Robert Craig, John H. McHenry, Sr., S. M. Wing and E. A. Hathaway, who purchased of R. M. Hathawav and F. M. Pearl nine acres and a fraction of ground in what is known as Hathaway's addition to Owensboro, aiuu xiamed same "Rural Cemetery. The use of said grounds was continued until 1868, Wuen, owing to their smallness and the growth of the city around them, it became necessary to seek a more spacious and suitable place for a cemetery. After due consideration, forty acres of ground^ -r^lu-.i.^d about one mile southeast of Owensboro, (.;i the Hartford road, were selected and purchased of John G. Bfi.i'kJp^ by the following persons : S. M. Wing, James Weir, R. iJ. Hathaway, 1). M. Griftith, J. F. Kimbley, C. Griflith, T, ' Venable, W. B. Tyler, W. N". Sweeney, B. Bransford, T. S. Anaerson, l>avid Hamilton, J. H. McHenry, Jr., Charles Werner, John G. Barkley, W. T. Courtney, S. H. Ford and W. H. Perkins. G. R. Milne, in May, 1875, was admitted into tiie company, on the same footing with the above-named stockholders, and each one received a certificate of the company's indebted ness to him for $200, to bear twelve per cent, interest, annually. The name given to the grounds was " Rural Hill Cemetery "— changed in April, 1869, to Eimwood, its present name. Nearly all the persons buried in the old cemetery were removed Digitized by Microsoft® 406 HISTORT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. to the new at the expense of the company, and each lot-owner in tlie old cemetery received a lot in the new one instead. Improve ments were immediately begun on the new grounds — a good brick house erected for the sexton, grounds fenced in, surveyed, divided into lots, roads and some substantial brick drains made. This was done under the supervision of Mr. R. M. Hathaway, the first J^res- idont of the Elmwood Cemetery Company, and to his close attention, good taste and judgment is due much that is beautiful and substantial on the premises. In order to do all tliis, much money was expended by the company in anticipation of receipts, which, meantime, came in slowly, while expenses continued and interest accrued. In short, the indebtedness of the company increased constantly, the stockholders became weary waiting for returns and many of them sold their stock, the majority of which came into the hands of T. S. Anderson. The debt had now (1878) accumulated to such a size that the aimnal interest on it, to say nothing of the necessary running expenses of the cemetery, amounted to more than the entire yearly receipts from all sources; and, the affairs of the company being in such a condition that each year's business increased the debt a^d decreased the assets (as the lots were sold), it became evident to the creditors that some change must be made in the finances. The directors were urged to make ai'rangements to pay ott' the debt, if possible, but they seemed unable to do so. T. S. Anderson, being the largest creditor, then proposed to give the company one year's time, without interest, on his claim, if they would secure it, but this was declined. He then proposed to pay the entire debt oi the cemetery, himself, if tlie company would transfer its prop- erty to him. It was generally conceded at the time that the entire T>roperty of tlie cemetery would not pay its debts at a forced sale, a d, as before saiil, the debt was increasing yearly. The directors said the proposition was liberal, more so than they would be willing to make, and on the 25th of June, 187S, the cemetery and assets WL're conveyed by deed to T. S. Anderson, on condition tliat lie should pay all debts of the cemetery, and that the grounds should bo forever us.'d as a burial ground and kept in good order. Upon taking charge of the cemetery, and after consulting the best authorities (Spring Grrove Cemetery, Cincinnati; Cave Hill, Louisville, and (^ak Hill, Evansville), he decided to divide some of the lots, heretofore entirely too large, into sizes to suit the wants oi every famil}'; and as the past experience of the company had Digitized by Microsoft® aWENSBOKd. 407 shown that the old price of lots was not enough to keep the ceme- tery out of debt, the price of lots per square foot has been increased ; but even now the prices of the best ground is onlj^ one fourth of that of the same in Cave Hill, and not more than one third of that in Oak Hill, Evansville. The entire debt of tlie old company has been paid off and the cemetery is now on a firm footing. Some improvements liave been made already, as can readily be seen, and others will be made. It is intended that Elmwood shall be a first-class cemetery in every respect, and much more labor and care will be given it than ever before. The Catholic Cemetery is located about a half mile below town, on the Henderson road. It comprises about nine'acres. It was laid out in October, 1861. PUBLIC BENEVOLENCE. The people of Owensboro exhibit that promptness in philan- thropic demands which is characteristic of Kentuckians. March 8, 1867, a general relief committee, ^ith auxiliary com- mittees throughout the county, was organized for the relief of the suffering poor in the South. This organization did something considerable; but during the spring another organization was effected, which, it seems, did much more. In the fall of 1878 the citizens of Owensboro raised about $1,200 for the relief of sufferers in the South. Owensboro rallied nobly to the relief of the Chicago sufferers, after their great fire of Oct. 9, 10, 1871. [See Chapter XIV. for philanthropic enterprises comprising the county.] OWENSBORO POSTMASTERS. In the days of President Polk, Jesse Br i stow was Postmaster. The office was on the river, in one of the old Morton houses, where Ben Bransford's stemmery has since been. Mr. B. was consumptive, and therefore irritable; but was a good Postmaster. His successors "in office have been George Holmes, Solomon How- ard, Thomas Higdon, James Watkins, Dr. Stephen F. Ogden, the MegiU Bros., Jesse Moore, S. C. Wing (son of S. M. Wmg), and Lawson Keno. Dr. Ogden was a jolly, faithful, patient official. Mr. Reno and his assistants seem to be as accommodat- ing as anybody could wish. Mr. Reno and his deputy, 0. B. Mit" Digitized by Microsoft® 408 HISTORY OF DAVIE^ COUNTY. chell, have had tlie office since Feb. 2, 1880, and thej are the best men for the place that could be found. Indeed, they are the most accommodating postmasters we ever saw. Daily mail to Owensboro was first established in November, 1869, through the enterprise of Postmaster Foster, of Evansville. BRIEF MENTION. Most of the items given under this head are taken from that remarkable diary of Mr. Joseph Thomas, described at the begin- ning of Chapter XIII. Some of the events here referred to did not transpire in Owensboro, but in the vicinity; and as only a brief meniion is made of them, we find it more convenient to col- late them all together in a sort of chronological table. 1844. March 12, at five p. m., the steamers Sultana and Alex. Scott left New Orleans, and arrived at 0>vensboro the 17th at eleven o'clock, a. m., being out from New Orleans four days, seven- teen hours and forty minutes, — tlie quickest trip ever made to this place. The Scott beat the Sultana to the mouth of the Ohio by one hour. Average speed, eleven miles per hour. The Sul- tana broke her cam-rod, and ran an hour and a half with one wheel. May following, the Duke of Orleans came up, beating the Sultana one hour. May 25, military muster in Owensboro. Colo- nel Butler and Judge Owsley, candidates for Governor, delivered addresses. Heavy thunder-storm to daj' also, the lightning strik- ing the court-house and market-house. Measles ])revalent. June 1, meeting of the Clay Chib. Speeches by Devereux, Johnson, Weir and Crow. The S. J3. ]\Iontg(.)mery made the trip to Louisville in four days, twsuty-three hours and fifty min- utes,— the first boat that ever made it under five days. Aug. 5, election very exciting; a great many drank; only one or two figlits, liowever. Mucli sickness during this month. River low. Hats worse tlian usual in their depredations in town. September, Dr. Lockliart, abo\-e town, died. Sept. 26, Tiianks- giving day in Kentucky. Oct. 8, Wm. \A'^atkins died, after a very severe and protracted illness. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 409 Oct. 2, Whigs raised a flag-pole 120 feet high; a large meeting of Whigs, with music and banners. On the 3d, a great barbecue; ad- dresses were delivered by McHenry, Letcher, Calhoon, and Dixon. Ladies were present, who sung and shouted and waved their hand- kerchiefs. On the 8th, boys march with lights. Streets dusty. Dec. 27, Masonic celebration, by marching and ball. 1845. Feb. 11, P. Triplett's fine barn burned; lf.th, Athy's stable burned, with horse. A fire company was immediately afterward organized, and a subscription raised for ladders, cisteros, etc. ; but the enterprise soon "fell through." March, Sultana made the trip to Louisville in four days, twenty-one hours and fifty-eight minutes. April 7, Dr. Conway's house burned. June 9, 0. Riley, Mr. Crow and A. Jones, candidates for Legis- lature, addressed the people. No. 20, Thanksgiving. 1846. Jan. 17, Mr. Clary's house burned. March 26, Dr. Wm. Morton, Jr. , died. April and May, a deaf and dumb man gave writing lessons in town. May, exciting news from the Mexican war, and a volunteer corps of ninety-three foot was formed, with G. W. Triplett for Captain; seventy volunteered in one day ; all too late for acceptance, how- ever. McCreery raised a horse company. June 15, geological lectures. June 24, celebrations by the Freemasons. July, several boats passed with volunteers for the Mexican war. Aug. 5, exciting election; 10, county court and trustee election. Nov. 24, Dr. Williams died of congestive fever. December, two new packets — Courier and General Worth — running up Green River. Considerable excitement this month. On the 1 7th, three men — Harris, Fngh and Galloway — were tried before a magistrate for the murder of a store-boat keeper, Roberts, on Green River. The latter was dismissed and the other two were committed for further trial. On the 24th, the b'hoys about town got to shooting guns and bursting balls of twine filled with powder, and by so doing broke Digitized by Microsoft® till 111 iii-i'-i;-! •■•i' i 1 -I \- 1 i-.ss; ^.l^^!\. »iv.'^ luii.iiv ;)a'ii.'"- of irlass. J'lai InijU'i-s niel and ordered tiie "'said b in.vs" to n-iKur the dainiiijcs i j-Sj witiiiii three day*. 1547. Jan. 1. Sups of Tc-!ii]>Grai!vX' h;i.\e a ]Mil)lic march, to the number fit'twrty, and were addref-M'tl hy litn-. Mi'. Hunter. ^M.'iich M, Ki'st trip u[> tlie)ivi-r. bv tlie Alex. Scdtt. Mf.y i.'8-29, a jubilee, ]l<.\ ,. Deparc'], (loonies imd Coghlan otiiciating; 22, Pugh cleared of the ehargo of iimrder. .June, Mexican volunteers of the ^irevious year return home. 9, Thomas P'ield died. July 11, steamer Wheel of Fortune burned about 3 a. m., six miles below town. Aug. 2, exciting election. See I'olitical chapter. September, Captain McCreery's com])any raised for the Mexican war Oct. 9, regimental muster, and D. Province elected Colonel; 19th, the steamer Concordia makes her first trip down the river; 20th, S. D. Johnson died. Dnring the month. Prof. Honfleur tau:;ht drawing lessons. Joseph Thomas' pork-house completed. November and December, Mountaineer and Ilibernia, packets. Dec. 25, march by the Sons of Temperance. 1848. Jan. 30, Mrs. Robert Triplett died, after a very short illness. April 1, Kerney & Thomas take possession of grist-mill and commence running it. Ang. 15, Thomas Kelly died. Dec. 25, Sons of Temperance parade. 1849. May 27, music in the Catholic church, — the first ever in the town; 19, S. P. Hart died, of consumption. July 1, two deaths from Asiatic cholera. Wheat crop destroyed by rust. 1850. Jan. 5, P. S. Anderson died; 28, Captain Sharp died. Feb. 16, T. B. Fitch died; 26, Charley Ilarsford died, of con- sumption. Digitized by Microsoft® OWKN'SBORO. 411 March, subscription for railroad. April 4, at 8:25 p. m., a sensible shock of gearthquake; all the citizens were alarmed; 29, ]I. Kerr & Co.'s stemmerj, tilled with tobacco, burned early in the morning; H, P. Triplett's cabin burned at night. May 13, a negro man died of cholera in town. July 8, W. Edson, of Hartford, got off a steamer here with cholera and died; 9, old Aunt Grace died; 17, Mr. Steyfel, an old gentleman, died of cholera; 21, another death trom cholera; 2i; Mrs. fl. Stanley died also of the same epidemic, and the next day her husband died with it. Wheat crop ruined again by rust. Aug. 7, Yontz died of cholera. During the month there were four or five other fatal cases of cholera. Sept. 28, M. McFarland died. October, considerable building in town — banking house, Bar- gess' store-house, M. E. church, R. P. AuU's dwelling, a splendid stemmery, and improvement of Main street. 1851. Jan. 28, Fawn, a new packet. April 17, Courtland, a packet. May, from middle onward, locusts abundant; li, two deaths from cholera. Fruit destroyed this month by frosts. June 22, Charles Ogden drowned; 29, Joseph Ogden died. Crops promise fair. Several deaths from dysentery. July, wheat good this season. A hot month. Aug. 16, J. W. Lanham died; also Ilovrard T. Taylor, one of the best farmers and citizens of the county, was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun in the hands of Dr. Wilmot. Fif- teen buckshot entered his heart, three of which went through him. The gun was so ne:ir him that the flash set fire to his shirt. He fell, exclaiming, " Lord, have mercy on me; I am killed; " and was dead before those immediately behind him could raise him up. Aug. 27, W. Murphy died of cholera. Sept. 5, Joe Stout and T. Kineheloe died; 2, "Dumb Billy Adams "died; 7, Airs. IlaU's son died of cholera; 10, P. Triplett's girl died of cholera; 19, Mr. Hathaway, a painter, died; 22, James Jones died, a^od ninjty-one' on July fuurtli preceding. River exceedingly low. Digitized by Microsoft® 412 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. October, about the second, A. L. Beard died; 4, T. O'Flynn died; about tlie twenty-eiglitli, Ralph Calhoon died; 23, death of Mrs. Trible. Nov. 1, J. Phelan died; 8, Samuel Morton died of apoplexy; 9, James Murphy died; 12, wife of Ricliard Thomas died. Dec. 9, Robert Winsor died; 10, Simpson Stout died. 1852. Jan. 8, death of Mat. Kirkpatrick; 10, of Robert Triplett, with erysiftelas; 13, of V. A. Pegram, with erysipelas; also the death of Fanny Mayo, with congestion of the brain; also of Mr. Stone, an old gentleman; 18, of Miss Allison; 19, of Dr. Hill; 23, of Miss Sarah Triplett, with erysipelas; 24, of Mrs. P. Trip- lett, with same, and Mrs. Hathaway and Thomas Worley; 26, Mr. Combe's slave " Louie," also with erysipelas. A month of extraordinar}' mortality. Feb. 1,'Miss De Lovell, a teacher, died; 3, Mrs. Combe died, some say of erysipelas; 7, death of F. W. Wall; 12, J. E. Kelly found dead in bed from apoplexy; 24, Helena Pegram died. March 24, first trip of the great steamer Eclipse; also, Marcus McDaniel's cabin and houses were burned, and two small negroes with them. The Eclipse was 360 feet long, and probably the largest that had ever been built in the "West; cost, $135,000. !« March 23, Mr. Thixton died of consumption; 24, Miss Laura Triplett died; 30, Philip Triplett died of erysipelas. April 22, Mrs. Hall died. May 2, J. J. Bowlds died; 13, a negro in the country died of cholera; 15, another case. June 6, Z. Blanford died of cholera; 16, Miss Calhoon died of typhoid fever; 18, George Calhoon died of same. July, spiritual rappings abundant. Sept. 27, death of Miss Carico, Mrs. Campbell and a man below town. Oct. 15, Judge Caliioon died at Louisville, and remains brought home on the ISth. Joseph Thomas's steam flouring mill and carding machine were burned on the 1st of this month, by an in- cendiary; loss about $8,000. A store adjoining, with $12,000 worth of goods, was also consumed. No insurance. Nov. 14, Mrs. Simmons {nee Sally Smith) died. Digitized by Microsoft® owE^fSBOEO. 413 1853. Jan. 13, A. L. Shotwell first trip down; a fast boat. March 5, twelve boats passed. April 12, Telegraph No. 3 made the best time. May 13, James Jones died; 18, Eclipse passed, — only three days and twenty-one hours from New Orleans, in a race with the A. L. Shotwell, which was sixteen to twenty minutes longer reaching Louisville. The latter left New Oi-leans three days after the Eclipse. 27, four white men entered Capt. Bob McFarland's house, dragged him from his bed at his wife's side, inflicted sev- eral severe blows upon his face with an ax, and then left him dead on the floor. They fired a gun, but no bullet wound could after- ward be found upon the body. June 15, Dr. John Roberts died. July 4, Mrs. Stirman died; 31, Pointers] Washington drowned. This month Joseph Thomas made arrangements in Philadelphia to introduce the stereoscope into Kentucky. August and September, good crop of fruit of all kinds this sea- son. Town improving. Old court-house removed, to give place for a new building. Wharf enlarged, etc. Dec. 28, J. Johnston died, of typhoid fever. 1854. April 14, Mrs. Emma {nee Ilawes) Nicholas died; 29, J. Hess died of cholera; there were two or three other cases of cholera during the month. June 27, Dr. Macgruder died, of consumption. Sept. 20 (about), Mr. Wilkinson died, of cholera, on board a steamer a few miles above town. Oct. 2, Hathaway's store and three other buildings burned; 11, J. H. Mayhall died; 19, T. Burgess shot D. Murphy, and the latter died foiir days afterward. Nov. 1, C. EichardEon hung by T. Landrum; about 2,500 per- sons present; 3, W. Thornton and two others died of cholera; 4, Sydney Hewitt and J. Lambsen died of cholera; 5, J. Decker died. " Hard Times" for want of money. Dee. 7, Owensboro Gazette commenced; 16, S. Collier died. Digitized by Microsoft® 414 IIISTiii;v uF l)A\Ii:ss inlNTV. 1655. Jan. 27, in tlie evenintc, at J. 11. Daveiss' mill, Alex. Mason, a N-ountr man, was killcjJ. Ho was putting' a belt on tlic drum at- taclied to tlio ily-wliee), and slipped and fell so tliat an arm of the wheel cauglit his shoulder and liead and drew him into the wheel iiit. His liead was mashed to a jelly, and he lived but a few min- utes after he was taken out. Times harder this winter than before for many years. Provis- ions liigh and poor. Potatoes, $2 a busliel, and hard to get at that price. Meal, 70 to 75 cents a busliel, and flour, $8.50 a barrel. No vegetables save turnips, and these were SO cents a bushel, whereas the usual price is 12 to 15 cents. Corn, 60 cents at the crib and scarce. April 9, John Combe died; 11, Wm. Rogers died; 18, Mrs. Thornton died; 30, Mrs. P. Johnson (Mrs. Ford) died. May 3, S. Childers' brick store fell down. June 11, Geo. W. Mascjn died. Wheat crop fine, and cut early. July 4, corner-stone of court-house laid; 30, Know-Nothings hold amass meeting; 24, Mrs. J. Davidson died; 2i^, T. W Watkins died. Aug. 3, ^litchell Calhoon died; also, '-Sister" Raphaella; 31, Evan Merriweatlier died. Sept. 6, steamer William Grarvin, a packet; 11, Weir's fruit- lioufe burned; 16, Mrs. H. Dugan died. Oct. 16-19, fair; receipts about $565; 2, Major Ben Read died; 5. Tom Sale 8hc)t his wife. Chills prevalent this month. 1856. Jan. 12, Mrs. Webb died, of consumption; 14, Dr. Hodges died. Feb. 3, Hoskins' child burned to death. March 29, II. A. Reed died. April 4, Wm. vSan^beriy died; 28, lli: Athis died. May 10. (iilly Jones died. June 24, Mrs. ?JcIlveny died; 25, Henry Faitli died. July 1, Joseph Tl'.Mmas, Jr., died of pneumonia, aged ten years; 25. Mr, Delahuiit died. Aug. 6, j-Vt/tio/ml Anicricti.n, a Know-Nothing paper, pub- lished in Ov.-ensboro; 17, Mrs. McClarty died; 20, Solomon Kigel died. Digitized by Microsoft® nWEN.sHOKfi. 4.15 iSepteiJiber, provisions higli and difficult to be obtained, on accouut of drouth; 23, Frank Head died. Oct. 11, Mrs. II. Decker died; 22, Mrs. J. Carlin died; 27, Mrs. Kate Craig died; 30, John Snyder died. A very sickly month, 1857. May, small-pox scare; 29, a death in town from this disease; 27, G. W. Farrow died, from kicks given by Hugh B. Lea. The small-pox was introduced by a German who came to Kenney's Exchange. Several contracted the disease. Public meetings for- bidden. June 7, nine cases of small-pox or varioloid in town. Dull time in a business point of view. July 1, crops very promising; wheat excellent; 30, a little Small- pox yet. Sept. 4, Mrs. Wall died; 21, John Talbott's child burned to death; 26, George Slaughter died; 30, W. B. Johnson died, of typhoid fever. Oct. 5, Histrionic Association opened in "Lady of Lyons." Nov. 7, Mrs. Sarah Thomas died of consumption; 20, H. Manzy killed his wife, and died in jail on the 24:th. 1858. Jan. 13, J. H. Daveissdied. Considerable sickness this month — typhoid fever and pneumonia, and a few cases of small-pox and varioloid. In the country were some cases of scarlet fever. J. S. Dawson lost four children by this disease. Feb. 2, J. F. Hunter died of typhoid fever; 19, Scioto No. 2, a packet. March 9, three marriages at 4 p. m. ; 26, Elijah Rafferty died. April 20, Miss MoUie Whayne died, of consumption. May 30, Mrs. McKay, an old lady, died. Aug. 11, Mrs. N. Harlow died; 22, Mrs. Dean died. Sept. 6, Mrs. McAtee died. Oct. 17, death of Martin "Watkins, and on 31st, Mrs. Story. Nov. 6, death of Grajson Brooks. January— deaths: 2, Mrs. Dan. Kennady; 3, Temp. Sublett; 10, Sam. Cottrell; 14, Dr. S. F. Ogden, and Mrs. E. Marks; 22, Mrs, Waters. Feb. 7, Ada Roberts died. Digitized by Microsoft® 416 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. March 1, J. McKeedied; 12, death of "old" Tom Grooms. April 12, death of J. B. Watkins. July 3, Salmon's house robbed and burned by negroes; 12, death of Mrs. Trubler; 16, of Mary Yeaman; 17, of S. Paxton. Aug. 28, new African church dedicated. Oct. 19, Mr. Ilicks's house burned; 22, Ben Allen died. Nov. 24, Eliza W. Ilobbs died, of hemorrhage of the lungs and disease of the heart. Only twelve hours afterward her servant from childhood, Roselle, died. Dec. 30, death of Mr. Harl and Mrs. Yeager. 1860. Jan. 30, Mr. Pegram's house burned. Feb. 22, spire of the Baptist church, just finished, was blown down, with scaffolding; damage about $1,500. Whooping-cough prevailing. March 20, J. Mitchell's store, Dodson's stable and three or four houses burned. April 29, death of Dr. Todd. May 19, death of Mrs. Shelby. Aug. 7, earthquake sensibly felt by everybody. Sept. 10, James Iloskins died of typhoid fever; Mrs. John Long, of consumption; 16, Baptist church opened for services for the xst time. Oct. 24, death of Mrs. Reinhardt; 25, Cumberland Presbyterian Synod commences. Nov. 2, R. M. Dorsey died; 8, R. E. Cassiday died. Dec. 9, Larry Murphy died; 17, Deposit Bank in operation; 22, John Allen died; 24, PatEnright froze to death, while drunk; 31, a street lamp lighted at night. 1861. Jan. 4, a day of prayer and fasting generally observed by the citizens for the sake of reconciling the North and the South. Stores all closed and churches mostly opened. Business almost suspended during the montli, on account of the pecuniary depres" sion caused by secession, etc. ; Jan. 19, Sam Hawes, died. Feb. 2, Methodist revival; 20, Judge Stuart, on petition, deter- mined to render no judgments for debt this term, on account of the unsettled state of the country and consequent scarcity of money. There were 603 suits for debt on the docket. Digitized by Microsoft® 0WEN8B0B0. 417 April 8, Fanny Griasom died; 16, Crockett and Teaman spoke, on the occasion of the surrender of Fort Sumter, S. 0. ; 22 speeches by J. C. Breckenridge and A. Dixon; secession gaining ground; 21, Mrs. Clements died. May 13, George Howard, died; 18, forty of the " Home Guards" paraded with muskets, for the first time; 28, " Dixie Guards" left for the Southern army; 31, death of Mrs. Nunn and McDaniel. July 17, "Home Guards" sworn by Judge Botts; 29, Mrs. J. Hathaway died. Aug. 17, Wash Thompson died. Oct. 16, death of Ben Hawes; 17, of Sid Gough. Dec. 5, James Talbot died of typhoid fever; 6, "Wm. H. Kin- ney's father died; 7, death of Mat. Cushing; 23, Miss Mollie Long died; 2i, Mrs. O'Callaghan. died. 1862. May 12, R. Hughes died; 14, Mr. Dillman died; 1, Baptist As- sociation commences; 15, Cumberland Presbyterian Assembly con- vened; 17, Mrs. Henry Scott died of consumption; 29, "Old" Jerry Yewell died. July 22, Mrs. McHenry died. Aug. 1, Mrs. James Talbot died; 7, Jesse Mason and J. C. Tal- bot died; 10, Mrs. Green died in Danville. Oct. 1, Methodist Conference commences; 29, Mrs. J. Bristow died; crops fair this year; imported groceries high and money scarce. Nov. 30, earthquake at 9:30 a. m; 29, "Willis Field murdered. Dec. 3, Mrs. Wh"ayne died; 6, earthquake; 8, Wm. Evans died; 9, death of Mrs. Wm. Talbott; 29, Mrs. J. G. Howard and Mrs. McManus died. Greenbacks abundant and small change scarce; merchants issuing individual checks for 6 to 50 cents. 1863. Jan. 18, Isaac Kerneydied; 23, death of Rowell Robinson. Feb. 11, Mrs. Wm. Norris died. March 16, Mrs. J. G. McFarland died; 20, Mrs. Wash. Jones died; 25, death of John Dugan. Solomon J. Howard's house fired twice this month by an incendiary, but the fire was extinguished both times without much damage. 27 Digitized by Microsoft® 418 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. April 9, J. Rudd's house burned; 17, Mrs. Ann Read died. May 19, death of John Moorman. June 2, Andrew Jones died; 8, deatii of Allen Willioye, an old gentleman. July 20, J. Fuqna died. Sept. 27, Mrs. T. C. McOreery died. Oct. 3, Wm. Phelan died; 5, Gregory Arns died from a stabbing received three days previously; 13, Silas Mason died; 15, Slaughter Newton died of typhoid fever, and Jake Lefiler also died. Dec. 6, J. H. Tarascon, a new packet; 8, Henry Thomas died of peritonitis; 24, Miss Salmons died about this time. 1864. Jan. 7, Mr. Campbell's house bufned; 15, S. Strauss, rehiriiing from Louisville, drowned about this time.; 17, Bill Watkins ("Yel- low Bill") died; 23, L. Sims's tobacco steramery burned; 24, Mrs. Hayden died; 29, death of Cunningham. March 5, Colouel Thruston died. April 15, John Leaman died. June 7, Miss Kim Smith died. July 29, Mrs. Edlin (J. Lancaster's daughter) died. Aug. 18, Q. D. Mitchell killed by a negro picket. Sept. 22, new packet, Morning Star — first trip. Oct. 17, death of James B. Anderson. He was born in Lexing- ton, Ky., in 1808. After living at Louisville a number of years, he came to Owensboro, about 1836 or 1837, and engaged in farming until the fall of 1849, when he was elected Cashier of the Owens- boro branch of the Southern Bank, which position he retained, the bank reorganizing as the Planters' meanwhile, until his death, Oct. 17, 1864. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian church, and an exemplary Christian citizen. Dec. 17, Barna McNameeand Mrs. J. IT. Nelson died; 25, death of J. M. Rogers, an old citizen. 1865. Jan. 10, Anselm Watkins died; 29, John Hutchins found frozen to death; 24, Mrs. A. Imbler died. 31, Sam Trible died, very suddenly. Feb. 5, first mail received in Owensboro since Jan. 25; 25, death of Mrs. Ben. Read {nee Mary Kerney) and of Mrs. Cox; 28, Wm. Bell died. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 419 March 6, Madame Berthoud died; 7, small-pox, erysipelas and spotted fever in the city ; 12, Mrs. R. G. Moorman died. April 7, the splendid steamer [Ruth made her first trip on the Ohio; 12, Emma Qneen died; 17, business suspended and crape on the doors, on account of Lincoln's death; 22, J. Bodine died. May 2, Mrs. Clint. G-rifEth died; 15, J. Nelson's store burned. June 24, Masonic celebration. July 6, Mrs. W. Berry died; 17, Miss MoUie Scott died; 22 Tom Monohan died; 23, Mr. Webb, the hotel-keeper, died. Aug. 2, Colonel Ewing, an old citizen, died; 26, G. H. Yeaman appointed Minister to Denmark. Sept. 8, death of Mr. Kennady, uncle of S. D. Oct 9, Hon. G. H. Yearaan and family left for Denmark; 20, Mrs. Stewart, an old lady, died; 21; Mrs. Webb died, also John L. Goodrum; 25, death of W. B. Hall. Nov. 3, Green Crabtree died; 30, death of Sam Beers. Dec. 7, Thanksgiving; 3, Wash. Jones died. 1866. Jan. 1, Mrs. Winchester found dead in bed; 7, J. R. Allen also found dead in bed. Jan. 30, the steamer Missouri exploded her boilers, some ten miles above Evansville. Her hull sank instantly, while lier cabin, full of water, floated oflf. Among the lost was Mr. George A. Peters, a well-known and respected citizen and merchant of Owens- boro. His state-room was immediately over the boiler. The num- ber of deck-passengers and crew that was lost was seventy or eighty. The shock of the explosion was distinctly felt in Owens- boro, a distance of about thirty miles. Feb. 3, Mrs. Noel killed by explosion of the W. A. Carter; 13, Mrs. Colonel Ewing died; 15, Mr. Johnson died, the result of wounds inflicted by a homicide; S. V. Rogers died; 25, death of Warner Crow. March 3, Anthony Fuqua (col.) killed by a stage-driver; 10, death of Atlas Jones. Some floods this month. April 18, death of Captain E. S. Ayres; 21, C. Hiller's house burned. May 1*, Mrs. Bell's barn burned by an incendiary, with three horses; 17, Cumberland Presbyterian Assembly convened; 21, "Tom," a negro boy, hung on the court-house square by a mob; Digitized by Microsoft® 420 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 27, death of "Jack" Ajres; 31, William Slielby's dwelling burned; 20, a negro named "Tom" was tried before (atj Judge "Washburn for rape. On his way to the jail an unknuwn i)arty placed one end of a rope over iiis head, and threw the other end over a limb of a tree in the court-house yard, and tlie father of the injured girl drew the ]n'isoner uj), where he was kept suspended twenty or thirty minutes, and until after he was quite dead. June 25, death of John Hathaway. July, wheat crop very fine, but not so large as tlie previous year; 21, Confederate tournament above town. Aug. 19, Mr. Jones's death, from cholera; 23, Miss Warner died, of same. Sept. 15, another case of cholera; 20-27, very wet; great dam- age to railroads. Oct. 26, the three stores of Messrs. Kendall, Moise and Oppen- heimer were burned; loss, $20,000; 29, John Pope died, of con- sumption. Nov. 9, Tom Barron died; 30, James M. Smith died. Dec. 5, death of Miss Nannie Ewing; 29, telegraph line to Louis- ville commenced. 1867. Jan. 11, death of J. G. Harrison; 15, Lizzie Thomas died; 17 and 18, Admiral Semmes delivered two very fine lectures in Court Hall, on the cruise of the Alabama, physical geograpliy of the sea, etc.; 31, Dr. Allen died, of cancer. Feb. 7, Judge Stuart moved to Owensboro. March, a cold, wot, backward si)ring. April 25, 26, frost. Latest spring ever witnessed here. May 18, body of G. Gossens found dead, (boldest May ever seen here. June 28, Jo Dryer died, from gunshot wounds inflicted by Uradshaw. July 14, D. Hamilton's cooper shop burned; 15, R. Patrick's mill burned. Aug. 28, death of Mrs. Win. Moorman, and 29, of Mrs. C. B. Hicks. Sept. 5, Pius (-lark died. Oct. 13, Mrs. M. Loyd died; 21, death of J. H. Blair. Exces- sive drought. November, lovely Inilian f, inner. December, commddL^ik^Glip^,Mimo£pM(^rce and business dull. OWENSBOKO. 421 1868. Jan. 13, Belle Lee's first trip flown; 16, ice six inches thick; 18, "Jack" Bristow died; 21, Mr. Gate, an old man, died; 28, death of Mr. Pfister, from pneumonia; 29, coldest day this month — 5°. Feb. 4 and 10, good skatinor; 11, death ot Mrs. Isham Allen, md 14, of Mrs. Holmes, an old lady; 19, death of J. A. Scott, the saddler. March 21, BarnaMay, an old man, died; 24, death of Miss Josie Evans and Mr. Naumheim; 25, Mr. Shedigger's house burned; 26, death of Mrs. E. Crook. Vegetation forward. April 1, death of Mr. Nelson; 3-6, frost and ice; 19, death of Mrs. J. Metcalf. May 14, Mrs. Eliza "Watkins died, aged over forty-two years — disease of the heart. June 7, John S. McFarland died; 14, death of Dr. H. B. Koberts; 18, Clint. Sweeney drowned; 21-23, cool enough for fire in tlie evening and morning. July 6, new court-house ready for use, and the clerk's oflBces moved in; 17, one of the hottest days ever witnessed here — 100°; a negro woman killed by lightning at the Bransford Institute; 18, 19, over fifty persons sick from drinking milk which had been poisoned with some antiraonial preparation; no clue to the origin; none died; 30, James and J ay Mason died. Sept. 2, Go-operative Association met; 19, death of Mrs. Stem- bridge, and 21, of- Mrs. James Jackson. Oct. 14, death of Mrs. Craycroft. Nov. 10, death of Kitty Bell; 18, Dr. Mitcheson and W. Y. Gavin died. Dec. 12, P. Lyddan fell off^a horse and was killed; 25, part of the River Hotel burned ; 28, some cases of small-pox, especially among the negroes. 1869. An. 23, Mr. Crutcher's house burned; 27, a negro man, com- iitted to jail for rape, was hung in the court-house yard. Feb. 2, Mrs. J. S. McFarland died, of pneumonia; 3, Mrs. Wm. Owen and B. H. Triplett died. March, cold weather and small-pox prevailing; 17, W. H. McKay's warehouse burned. Digitized by Microsoft® Ij!- IIIjTORY oV DAVIESS COUNl'V. April lit, death of Mv.s. Miles Lancaster, and 20, of Alf. Johnson. AIa_> 6, Miles Lancaster died; 20, Miss Betsey Burgess died; 25, three barges loaded with ice landed at Owensboro for sale. D. Monarch boiig-ht lOo tons, at §10 a ton. The blocks of ice weigh- ing 300 to 40O pounds were c^uriosities to manj' of the citizens. Jiinell, •' Dick"" Hutchison died; 13, high winti,— blew down trees i". hoiiio places. .July .''. Sam Childers died; 7, Joseph Cliathanj, and 8, Eli Adams, died. Aug- 2.;, j\lr. Ilickey's house burned; " Davis" died from sun- stroke. Sept. 10, Mr. i.,uuipkin (the elder) died; 26, Mrs. Lucy Blincoe {/lee Roberts) died. Oct. 11, F. L. Hall's new dramatic hall opened; 28, deatli ot Captain Ellis and Wui. Harl. Nov. 3, death of Ed. Barber and Mrs. Venable. The whole niontl) cloudy and chilly. Dec. -il, parsonage of a colored church burned. 1870. Jan. 21, roller skating rink opened,— Mr. France, manager; 23 Mi-s. Sam. McOlarty died. River very high this month. Feb. 7, death of Harp. Higdon. March 6, death of John W. Schenck; 19, of Mrs. P. F. Smith; 28, of Rev. Isham Howard, a colored minister. April 4, election of maj'or, and negroes voted for the lirst time; 31, Dan McFarland died. May !>, J. Matthews killed by a kick from a Jiorse; 22, James Craig died; 30, Mrs. Enoch Allen died. July 2, Mrs. A. B. Johnston died; 6, death of Mrs. Wm. Sharpe; 17, Mike Donahue was murdered by Link Ballard, at a small saloon a mile fi-om the city; the murderer was aided by accom- plices; 19, of Mrs, '-Dink" Read; 20, one of the heaviest rains ever witneshed Aug. 6, W. Anthony died. Oct. 4, death of Miss Amanda Weir; 16, of Charles Montgomery. -Nov. I. lirst biting l'ro«t; 1:'., Dan. Ivcnnady died. Dec. 8, O. S. Warner's house burned; I'.i, Allen Yewell killed by a log at a h(»nsie-!'aising; "21, first freezing weather; 26, ice six inches thick; 28, Mrs. ''Ben'' Abell uied about this time; 31, locomotive Jo Daveiss put on the track find tried; Mrs. Donaldson died. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 423 1871. Jan. 17, John G. Holloway died; 22, Hon. G. H. Yearn, re- moved to New York City. Feb. 3, death of Mrs. H. N. Davis; 4, of Captain Burge. April 4, Mrs. James Kennady and Mrs. Ed. Hawes died; 15, "Win. Berry's still-house burned; 23, lieavy frost. May 6, Elio Taylor died; 7, frost; 10, J. ViUito killed by a saw- head; 16, O. Gain killed Summers and wife; 8, first " beer garden" in the county opened. June 2, death of Wm. Cummins; 7, meeting of the Kentucky editors in Owensboro; 10, Catholic picnic below town to raise fun(?s for an organ: raised $400. July 4, mechanics' celebration and procession: J. Stuart, orator; 8, James Hathaway died; 27, death of Mrs. Murray, Nannie Shipp and two children. Aug. 7, the circuit clerk's office was entered at night by a burg- lar, who cut out three slats of the shutters, and stole the docket for the ensuing term of court. A similar robbery was committed at preceding term of court. Aug. 19, death of Mrs. Adele Hagan; 28, of R. P. Aull. Sept. 18, Mrs. Willis Field died; 24, Mrs. Ogden (old lady), and 30, Ezekiel Camborn died. Oct. 5, Judge Botts died about this time; 18, death of John O'Brien. Nov. 1, Judge McHenry died; 14, first wintry day. 1872. Jan. 5, an actress died oi small-pox, at River Hotel; also to-day Lally Conway died; 27, a negro died of small-pox in town; 30, Mrs. Lily E. Mitchell died of congestion of the lungs. Severe winter. On the 29th the river closed for the third time, and re- mained closed until Feb. 11. Feb, 8, Ap. Spalding and Dr. J. Conway died; 2i, another negro died of small-pox; 26, J. G. Delker's furniture factory burned; loss about $15,000; cause of fire unknown, but it origi- nated as if by an incendiary; 16, the railroad blacksmith shop was burned. March 6, Maggie Ferguson died of consumption; a backward spring; some small-pox in town. Digitized by Microsoft® 424 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. April 3, J. P. Thompson died of brain fever; 14. a fire of mys- terions origin consumed the buildings on Frederica street, between Third and Fon'rtli, belonging to Ainos R. Hathaway, and the grocery stock of Alvey Brothers; total loss, $8,000 or $10,000. May 10, J. Vairian died; 27, Geo. Clements died. Sept. 19, A. Moor^land died. Dec. — , ice eight inches thick, and very clear; much ice on the roads, almost totally preventing travel; crops good this year; some time during 1872, Mr. Kincheloe killed Mr. Throckmorton, on a road a little west of Owensboro. 1873. Jaii. '29, 4° below zero; a hard winter and hard times. Feb. '^, Henry Hager died; 4, Frank Hagan and Mrs. Hall died; a cold, disagreeable month. March 3, E. P. Washburn died; spotted fever prevalent; 5, Mrs. L. P. Little and child died; 6, Mrs. Harlin (of spotted fever) and Mr. Johnson died; 16, death of "Jack" Jones and Mrs. Fisher; 21, boiler exploded at M. V. Monarch's distillery and flew into the river, 200 or 300 yards distant; two colored men were fatally injured; excitement in town on account of small-pox or varioloid; a backward spring; peaches not in bloom until April 6. April 4, B. Trible died; 5, Miss O'Neal died; 10, death of John Sharp, Thomas Kincheloe and Mrs. Wm. Collins; 16, Mr. Incal died; 18, Barna Bunch died; 26, heavy frost. May 26, boiler in Rouse's mill exploded, killing two men. June 5, Jerome Mitchell died; 22, Catholic Temperance Union formed — 25 members; 25. George Donaldson died of white swelling. July 2, death of Athy Aud; 4, of Frank Douring; 5, of Miss Margaret Yairen; 15, Mrs. J. Mitchell died of cholera; 24, Miss Ann Hagan died of typhoid fever. Aug. 6, Joseph Allen killed by an unknown person; 18, Mrs. Gus. Talbott died; 21, death of L. L. Talbott; 27, Mrs. Chatham died. Sept. 2, Mrs. Rarick and two others died of cnolera; 5, Mrs. Charles Green died of same; 7, James Thomas died of typhoid ever; 15, death of Annie Mitcherson; 25, death of T. Greenwell; 27, Mary Carter died of typhoH fever; there were several other deaths among adults in Owensbo'o this month; the cholera cases were all in the upper part of towi. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 426 Oct. 4, Jeff. Underwood shot and killed by Bud Boris; 8, Miss Lou Davis died of typhoid fever; 17, R. G. Moorman died of typhoid pneumonia; 19, Miss Ada Thornton, and 20, John Todd; both died of typhoid fever; 28, Mrs. Thornton died of typhoid fever. 1874. May 12, Burns's tobacco factory was burned, with 250,000 pounds of tobacco, and adjoining buildings. Sol. Wil and W. S. Brittain (of Louisville) were also losers. First week in May, two lar^e fires. Thomas O'Brien's stable, dwelling, etc., consumed: loss, $3,600; and the dwelling of W L. Mitchusson, on Railroad street. Aug. 3, George W. Swoope shot and killed Perry Riley, in the court-house yard near the polls on election day. The deceased left a wife and five small children. Five days afterward Mr. Swoope was admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000, but was finally acquitted on the ground of self-defense. Dec. 12, a block of buildings on the corner of St. Ann and Main streets was burned. Principal losers : W. N. Sweeney, D. M. Griffith, Charles Kahler and Mr. Driver. 1877. Nov. 30, Henry McDonald, restaurant keeper, committed suicide by taking chloroform. May 12, St Joseph's Church (German Catholic) was burned; loss, about $3,000; insurance, $1,000. Fire probably incendiary. 1878. Mr. Lavator, a " musical prodigy" as a violin-player, mysteriously appeared upon the streets of Owensboro in June, 1878, shoeless and shirtless, a wretched wanderer, gazing into vacancy and totter- ing along with nervous irregularity. Mr. Stone inquired into liis case, and, being asked for a violin, furnished him one. He seized it and immediately astonished the bystanders with his powers. Prominent citizens then took up his cause and presented him on the stage two or three times. Oct. 11, Nick Neal killed Henry Gearhardt, two miles fi-din Grissom's Landing, by stabbing hiir> in the abdomen. Tliree others were wounded in the affray; it v as a drunken spree. Neal was held to bail in a sum of $2,000. Digitized by Microsoft® 426 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Oct. 2.5, Colin S. Throckmorton, formerly an officer in the U. S. navy, and widely known in this State, died in Owensboro, after a lout; illness. Nov. 17, tine livery stable and warehouse of Hon. H. D. Mc- Ilenry, worth $1,500 or $2,000, were burned, alon^ with several other buildings, at or near the corner of First and St. Ann streets, aggregating a loss of about $7,000. Cause of the fire probably in- cendiary, or at best by the carelessness of a tramp. Dec. 8, Dangerfield Hathaway, a colored boy sixteen years old, was stabbed and killed by Jesse Gibson, another colored lad six- teen or eighteen years old, on Fourth street, Owensboro. It was on Sunday, and Hathaway had just returned from church with a gill; 29, the frame cottage of A. G. Hawes, on Frederica street, was burned. 1879. May 2, a $1,500 fire occurred, between Mulberry and Walnut streets, the loss falling upon John Gillis, John Thixton, A. Eosen- feld and John Walt. June 20, another loss of $1,500 by fire was suffered by J. D. Murphy, and Hughes & Alexander. Stable, eight horses and ai mule burned. Two days afterward an incendiary burned the Southern Wheel and Handle Factory; loss, over $5,000, and throw- ing about fifty hands out oi ■ employment. Sept. 13, a ferocious hog seized a child named Lela A. Hnltse, while she was playing in the yard, and dragged the screaming sufferer a distance of fifty feet, almost killing her, before she was rescued. 1880. April 10, the still-house, corn and cattle-shed of the John Hau- niiig distillery were consumed by fire; loss, over $6,000; on the 13th, Hope Mill, on Bolivar street, a dwelling on Third street, and <-<'.er buildings were burned. J. B. Cruse & Co., on the mill, , over $6,000. The Misses Green lost $1,500. d uly 10, death of Joan A. Faulds, tobacconist, and a businesB man of high order. He was a native of Perthshire, Scotland; came to this country in 1855, at the age of eighteen. Aug. 26, about midnight, Johnson & Cottrell's tobacco factory, P. J. Miller's residence, cottagto,« belonging to Messrs. Woolfolk & Tharp, and other buildings were consumed by fire; loss, over $30,000. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 427 Sept. 5, N. M. Lancaster & Co.'s large new distillery was de- stroyed by fire; loss, about $25,000; 9, J. S. Pottinger's large cooper-shop, at the west end of the city, was burned, throwing twenty-two men out of employment. Dec. 4, on account of some excavation near it, the old Wecker Hotel building fell with a terrible crash, accompanied with cries and shrieks of men, women and children; and, although there were three men, one woman and three children in the building, not one of them was seriously injured; total loss, about |900. It was built in 1850, at the foot of Frederica street, and occupied as a hotel until recently, when it was purcliased by the People's Wharf Boat Company. 1881. June 22, death of Joseph Kothchild, Sr., a prominent and suc- cessful merchant, and founder of the I. O. B. B. of Owensboro. July 13, a storm so severe as to unroof the court-house, damage many other valuable buildings and destroy thousands of trees. Sept. 6, W. E. Hubbard accidentally killed by the falling of a derrick near Grrimes's coal bank, a mile and a quarter from town. Oct. 8, Henry Nelson, colored, was shot down in cold blood at a negro dance in Owensboro. ISTov. 13, death of Thomas Monarch, one of the most prominent pioneers of Daviess County. He lived to be eighty-one years of age. A biographical sketch of him is published in the Daviess County Atlas and in the Messenger and Examiner of Nov. 16, 1881. Oct. 15, Jack Luckett was killed by Dick Vowells, in Herron & Co.'s saloon on Main street. 1882. On the evening of Jan. 6, 1882, the building known as Hall's Opera House was discovered to be in flames. Intense excitement prevailed, which was increased by a rumor that there were people in the building who had failed to escape; this, however, was untrue, as every one had left the theater upon the first alarm of fire. The foUowing is a list of those wlio suffered losses; Robert Nunn, grocer, lost everything his establishment contained; insured for $4,000. Parish's bookstore was pretty \ -'U consumed; loss cov- ered by insurance, il. "Washbnrne, propi .or of the Planters' House saloon, was a great loser; loss also nearly covered by insur- Digitized by Microsoft® 428 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS OOTTNTT. ance. The Planters' Hotel was almost torn to pieces; it was saved from entire destruction by a fire-proof wall that intervened between it and the fire. The job office of O. T. Kendall, the barber shop Of Elijah Hathaway and the dwelling of L. M. Ogden were badly crushed by the falling of the north wall of the Opera House. The Georgia Minstrels, who were to have played that night, sustained great losses. The Opera House was owned by Alexander Hill, and was built in 1870, at a cost of $22,000. There was an insurance of $10,000 on the whole building. The fire appeared to have originated in the basement, under the grocery of Robert Nunn. April 16, death of Thomas Moreland, in his forty-first year. He was a Captain in the Confederate army. '.June 30, Madison Jessup shot and killed George Smith, a re- spectable citizen ; both were colored. Jessup got away, and Artie, the wife of the deceased, was arrested for complicity in the act, found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for life; but the Court of Appeals reversed the decision, and the case now stands continued in court. Sept. 1, 1882, C. W. Roby arose from his bed in a somnambulistic fit, precipitated himself from a second-story window, near Spber- ri's Hotel, and killed himself. Oct. 16 occurred the death of Jacob Arnold, the oldest resident of Owensboro at the time, aged ninety-one years. He was a native of Alton, Switzerland, and the father of Theo, Godfrey and H. Ar- nold, all business men of Owensboro. Although he had been tor some years a resident in this country, he never abandoned the language and dress of his native land; and it was a familiar sight on warna, bright mornings to see him for hours in the sunshine by the river, while his little grandchildren played near by. He never acquired the English language, and in his old age he lived a quiet, uneventful life. In his death he left a wife, with whom he had lived threescore years, and who is now in her eighty-second year. Nov. 1, death of Benedict D. Coomes, in his seventy-fourth year, after a tedious illness. He was born in Nelson County, Ky., and came to this county about 1840. Dec. 25, a young, negro named Chai W^-Ji killed Jim Mont- gomery, a white man, in a beer saloon in Owensboro. Weir and two negro girls were drinking betr, when Montgomery commenced a scuffle with him; on being ordersd out of the saloon the negro Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 429 ran, followed by Montgomery, when the former shot and killed the latter. Self-defense was claimed. During this month an itinerant family stopped a few days in the suburbs of the city, one member of which was said to be 122 years old! Her hair was turning dark, her fingers plump and soft, and several other features of youth seemed to be returning. She is now dead. 1883. Jan. 16, deatli of Major John H. Smith, at the age of seventy- three. He built the first tobacco factory in Owensboro — probably the first west of the Allegheny Mountains; was a high-toned busi- ness man, wealthy, well-known and highly respected. BIOGRAPHICAL. Albert F. Alms, born in Evansville, Ind., July 23, 1851, was a son of Henry and Johanna (Holtz-Lossie) Alms, natives of Ger- many. His mother died ill 1873. His father still lives in Evans- yille. In 1864 Albert F. came to Owensboro and shortly after began to learn the tinner's trade, with H. Alms & Co. He worked with them two years when the firm changed, Mr. Alms going out and the business' being carried on by Mr. Lossie. He worked for Mr. Lossie until 1872 when he entered the firm as a partner with Wm. Lossie and John C. Frederick, under the firm name of Wm . LoBsie & Co. Mr. Alms was married in 1881 to Kate, daughter of Henry Keller, and a native of Daviess County. The firm of Wm. Lossie & Co. is one of the leading firms of the city. The store and salesroom ia in cliarge of Mr. Frederick and the work- shop is under the general supervision of Mr. Lossie and Mr. Alms. Thomas Sidney Anderson was born July 8, 1842, in Daviess County, Ky. His father, James B. Anderson, was a native of Fay- ette County, Ky., and died in Owensboro, Oct. 17, 1864. He had been a merchant in Louisville and Brandenburg Ky., and a farmer in Daviess County up to 1849 v/hen he was appointed Cashier of the Bank of Kentucky, and at the time of his death was Cashier of Planters' Bank. His mother, Mary Ann (Robertson) Anderson, was a native of Franklin County, Ky., and died in Owensboro, Sept. 18, 1878. Mr. Anderson was educated at a pri- vate school and at Ann Arbor University. While at Ann Arbor he was summoned home by the death of his father. He was ap- pointed Cashier in the bank in his father's place, and being also one of Digitized by Microsoft® 430 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COtTNTT. the executors of his father's estate was unable to finish his course at Ann Arbor. In February, 1871, he and his brother, W. K. Anderson, organized the Owensboro Savings Bank, he remaining the Cashier the Planters' and his brother having charge of the new bank. Business increasing so fast at the new bank, T. S. Anderson thought best to help his brother in the new enterprise, and resigned his position at Planters' Bank in the fall of 1871. In January, 1876, Mr. Anderson bought his brother's interest, his brother going to Detroit, Mich. In April, 1882, he completed his new building at a cost of $15,000. He has been engaged in the insurance business since 1864, having the agency of two companies. In November, 1879, he formed a partnership with J. 0. Kudd. He is President of the Owensboro Steam Ferry Company, President of the Owens- boro Coal Company, and is one of the Owensboro Warehouse and Feed Company recently organized. He was married May 29, 1867, to Susie Harris, of Petersburg, Ya. They have three daughters. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Presbyterian church. Politi- cally he is a Republican. Q. M. Arnold, a native of Switzerland, was born Nov. 12, 1844, and came to America with his parents at the age of eleven, settling in Lapole Township, Perry Co., Ind., in 1856, where young Arnold learned the trade of shoemaker. His father, Jacob Arnold, died Oct. 16, 1882, at the ripe old age of ninety-one. His mother, whose maiden name was Burry, resides with her son, at the age of eighty -one. They were both of Switzerland nativity. In 1863 G. M. Arnold movedtoCannelton, Ind., and in 1865 came to Owensboro and en- gaged at his trade of shoemaker. He went West in 1867 but soon re- turned to Owensboro where he engaged as a merchant's clerk. He and Mr. Schwab purchased his employer's business in 1869, estab- lishing his present business of confectionery, toys, notions and queen's-ware, under the firm naine of Arnold & Schwab. In 1876 Mr. Arnold purchased his partner's interest and is now conducting the business alone, enjoying at the present time a lucrative trade. Mr. Arnold was married Aug. 19, 1873, to Miss Caroline Gopp. Their four interesting children, Jacob, Edward, Cornelia and George, are all living. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the Catholic church. Wm. T. Aull, Superintendent of City Scales, was born in Knottsville Precinct, March 16,1840. His father, James Aull, was born near Bardstown, Nelson Co, Ky., and when ten or twelre years of age came with his parents to Daviess County, Ky., settling Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKO. 431 in Knottsville Precinct, being among the first to settle in this pre- cinct. He was married here to Charlotte McDaniel. She was born in Nelson County, Ky., and came with her parents to Daviess County about the same year that her husband came, and their parents' farms joined. Mr. and Mrs. James Aull are both living on the old farm in Knottsville Precinct, and have had a family of five sons and six daughters. Two daughters are deceased. William T., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. He lived ol. the old homestead farm, in Knottsville Precinct, until the outbreaking of the late war, and in September, 1861, enlisted in Captain J^^^oel's First Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, and remained in the service until the battle at Salt "Works, Ya., October, 1864, where he lost his right leg by a bullet from a Spencer rifle, while driving the enemy from the field. He was left at a little village called Liberty, in Tazewell County, Ya., and remained with the family of Jefierson Hickenbothem un- til Feb. 19, 1865, when he went to Yorkville, where he was com- pelled to submit to a second operation on his leg; remained there with the family of the Rev. Mr. Anderson, a Presbyterian minis- ter, iintil July 10, 1865, when he came home to Daviess County, Ky. He then attended the Pleasant Yalley Academy two years; then began teaching school, teaching in Daviess, Hancock and Ohio coupties four years. He was then elected County Assessor ot Daviess County and held that oiRce four years, when he was eleotdd Constable of Upper Town Precinct for two years. He then kept the Stoneman Hotel in Owensboro until burned out, Jan. 24, 1882, since which he has been Superintendent of the City Scales for the City of Owensboro. Mr. Aull married Mary E. Bruner, Aug. 29, 1879. She was born in Hancock County, Ky., and in a daughter of W. and Isabella (Head) Bruner. Mr. and Mrs. Aull have had seven children, four now living — Germaner, born Nov. 19, ISJl; LeRoy, born Dec. 13, 1873; Maude, born June 26, 1877, and JW. Jessie, born Nov. 1, 1882. In politics Mr. Aull is a Democrat. He is of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Benjamin Aull, was in the war of 1812. Dr. A. 0. Ayer was born in 1804; died in 1876. He was a native of Kingston, Tenn., and married Esther Durham John- son, near Knoxville. He moved to Kentucky in 1834. The years of his Kentucky life began with the early history of Owenisboro, and extended through the eventfnl periods of prosperous slave times, disastrous war, and decline of public and private enterprise after the war. He was one of four physicians who in the early hie- Digitized by Microsoft® 432 HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. tory of this part of Kentucky practiced in the large stretch ot country now embracing the counties of Ohio, Mulalenburg, Mc- Lean, Daviess and part of Henderson counties. He came from Kingston by water, in the latter part of the winter of 1834, tlius traversing almost tlie full length of the Tennessee River, and a large part of the Ohio, which was obstructed to a gi-eat extent by floating ice. The trip occupied several weeks, as it was made on a boat made by unskilled hands. One boat bearing his family and slaves, and a raft with stock, houseliold, and farm articles, brought them safe to the new country. There was no place near here where they could get the necessary conveniences of every-day life, so they brought all they could with them. The now wealthy town of Hen- derson, when they floated past it, was known as the landing of "Red Banks," and the county seat of Daviess, as " Yellow Banks." The latter landing was found to be a marshy level, with a few houses on the bank of the river. He le thy disembarked, and after a survey of the surrounding country, they concluded to move further into the interior, to the hills, where there was better water, and less chills and fever. Here, within twenty miles of Owens- boro, a plantation was cleared up, and after a few years a comfort- able and pleasant home was established. liis farm was for year one of the places for holding Daviess County elections, under the old dispensation of three days' voting. The different musters were held here also, and magistrate meetings. Dr. Ayer's home wa known far and near for open-hearted hospitality and free welcome to all. During the war, though his four sons were all rebels, he was conservative. He lived to see the sad effects of the war in this part of Kentucky, all around him. The spirit of thrift seemed to have departed from that part of the country, and the condemned marshy land around Yellow Banks came to be the desirable part of the country. McLean was made, and the elections changed to Calhoon, its county seat. The plantation ol slavery times came to be the quiet home of an invalid man, retired from active life. He ended his days in peace with God and man, in 1876, leaving a wife and six children, four sons and two daughters. Bernhard Boer, son of Isaac and Sarah (Wanberg) Baer, was born in West Prussia, Dec. 22, 1825. He was educated in his na- tive land. When twenty years of age, having lost both his parents, he emigrated to America; landed in New Orleans, and from there went to St. Louis, where he remained a few months; then went to Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 433 Paducab, and remained nine months. In July, 1847, he went to Louisville, and two years later moved to Croft Creek Springs, Ky., where he was in business till 1852; he then removed to Hop- kinsville, and remained till 1861, when he came to Owensboro, and started a dry-goods store. Dee. 16, 1865, he lost all his stock by tire, but started again, and continued till 1868, when he was obliged to close out his store, never having recovered from the effects of the fire. In .November, 1868, he started a sale on and restaurant, which he continued six years, when he sold out, and engaged in the grocery business two years. He then went into the dry-goods business again, and was successful. After two years he sold out, and has since that time been dealing extensively in ice. He was married in 1850 to Fannie Kahn, a native of Guttenberg, Ger- many. They have had eight children, only six now living — Isaac, Abel, Louie, Mary, Rosa, and Tilla. Sarah and Benjamin died in infancy. Mr. Baer has been a member of the City Council four terms, the last term acting as Mayor ^o tern. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, I. O. O. F., Harigari, and B'nai Brith. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Baer are both mem- bers of the Jewish Synagogue. David L. Bamett was born in Ohio County, Ky., Jan. 17, 1821, and resided there, engaged in farming, until 1875, when he came to Owensboro, Daviess County, and has been employed by the Gov- ernment as Store-Keeper. His parents were both natives of Ohio County. His father was killed by the falling of a tree, when David L. was four years old. His mother died when he was twelve years old, leaving three children — Cornelia, Elizabeth and David L. Elizabeth died at the age of fourteen ; Cornelia is now the wife of Achilles Webb, and lives near Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky.; David L. was married May 18, 1843, to Sallie A. Baird, a native of Ohio County, born May 7, 1819. To them were born seven children — Rebecca, Sallie Ann, John L., Felix D., James, Clarence, J. A. Mrs. Bamett died Jan. 9, 1879. June 2, 1880, Mr. Barnett mar- ried Catherine Cracroft, a native of Greenup County, Ky., born in 1857. They have one child— Eulala, born April 9, 1883. Mr. Barnett owns seventy-five acres in Ohio County, and a home in Owensboro. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Republican. Elrtl&j/ Y. Berkahi/re, bom Nov. 29, 1849, in Boone County, Ky., is a son of Belfield and Elizabeth (Terril) Berkshire, natives of Boone County, Ky. They had a family of six sons, four now liv- 28 Digitized by Microsoft® 434 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTr. ing. His father died in May, 1855. His mother married L. F. Jackson. They have three daughters. When twenty years of age Mr. Berkshire came to Daviess County, and bought a farm of lllf acres in Upper Town ; resided there till April, 1879, when he came to Owensboro, and entered the flouring mill of J. C. Terril, where he is still engaged, having had charge of the mill the greater part of the time. He was married Jan. 15, 1872, to Mollie, daughter of Benjamin Allan. They have four children — Benjamin, Beulah, Elizabeth and Harry. One son, Beltield, died in infancy. Mr. Berkshire has been a member of the Christian church since fifteen years of age. He owns his residence on Lewis street, between Fifth and Sixth. J. H. Bishop, son of Isaac and Rosa (Burks) Bishop, was born March 11, 1837, in Mercer County, Ky., where he was educated and lived till eighteen years of age. He then learned the watch- maker's trade in Helena, Ark., Franklin, Ind., and Miami, Mo. In 1859 he went to work for himself in Platte City, Mo. ; then went to Miami, Mo., Columbus, Ky., Bradenburg, Ky., Osville, Ky., Bed- ford, Ind., Rockport, Ind., Topeka, Kas. , and in 1872 came to Owensboro, commencing in Courtney's drugstore, and subsequently opening in his present quarters on Main street, near Frederica, where he has a complete stock of diamonds, jewelry, watches and clocks. His establishment is one of the finest in the city. Dec. 19, 1860, he married Annie Sebastian, of Brandenburg, Ky. Five chil- dren have been born to them, three now living — "William A., Er- nest v., and James L. Hattie Belle and Henry Horace died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop are members of the Southern Pres- byterian church. Politically Mr. Bishop is a Democrat. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., I. 0. 0. F., and K. of P- fraterni- ties. Richard H. Bishop, born March 5, 1835, in Fleming County, Ky., is a son of David and Rebecca (Fergurson) Bishop, natives of Ohio and Kentucky. His father moved to Kentucky when a young man. When Richard was five years old his father moved to Park County, Ind., and lived there till his death in the winter of 1876, at the age of seventy-seven years. His mother died in 1872, aged sixty-two years. They left a family of two sons and five daugh- ters. Richard H. lived at home till he was twenty-one. After his fourteenth year he was obliged to earn his own living and assist his parents. During this time he learned the plasterer's trade. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Digitized by Microsoft® ■' OWENSBOEO. 435 Indiana Infantry and served a year, the regiment bein .nustered out in the winter of 1864-'5. In 1865 he came to Daviess County, and lived a year in Murray Precinct. He then came to Owensboro and worked at his trade two years. He|then was employed as clerk in the grocery store of Mitchell Hanley; engaged to work three months and stayed six years and a a half, never losing a day. In the winter of 1875 he was appointed revenue ganger and still holds the position. He has been assigned to every distillery of any size in the Third District of Kentucky. In the winter of 1878 he bought an interest in the grocery of L. D. Cruse, but sold his interest in the winter of 1879. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows for ten years and has filled every chair in the order except that of Noble Grand; was elected to that office, but was unable to serve on account of absence from the city. He was married July 27, 1858, to Vienna, daughter of Thos. W. Salmon, of Daviess County. They have three children — John W., Lena Lillian and Lorena. Their eldest child, Deliahaman, died when eight months old. J. S. Bottenwiaer, son of Saul B. and Fannie (Meyers) Bot- tenwiser, Sept. 16, 1829, near Baden See, Switzerland. When eight years of age he was brought to Eiehmond, Va., by an uncle, Jiis godfather He attended school at Lexington, Ya., taught by John P. Letcher and Stonewall Jackson. He graduated when seventeen, and left for New Orleans. Remained there four years in a dry-goods house, and in 1851 went to California via the Gulf of Mexico and Panama. He was employed as messenger for Adams & Co.'s Express, and lost all his money by the collapse ot the company. Then left California and returned to Louisville and clerked till 1860, when he engaged in the dry-goods business for him- self. In 1868 he located in Cincinnati, and remained till 1877j He then came to Owensboro,and has been engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness here in partnership with Wm. Sharpe, under the firm name of Wm. Sharpe & Co. He was married June 3, 1860, to Cornelia Stephens, of St. Louis, daughter of Allen Stephens, for twenty- eight years Captain on the Louisville and New Orleans packets. They have one child — Charles H. Mr. Bottenwiser is a member of Blue Lodge Council, R. A. Chapter and K. T. Politically, he is a Republican . W. W. Boulware, local historian of the Chicago Inter-State Pub. Co., was born near Telvington, Daviess County, Ky., May 31, 1829. His father, John Boulware, was bom near Lexington, Ky., in 1798. John Boulware, father of the subject of our sketchy Digitized by Microsoft® 436 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. learned the blacksmith's trade in Lexington, and when eighteen or nineteen years of age came to Daviess County, and opened a black- smith shop in Owensboro. He was married here to Elizabeth, daughter of Dabney Sergeant, carpenter and joiner of Owensboro. Mr. and Mrs. Boulware were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had a family of nine children, three still living- Will- iam, Margaret, wife of William T. Washer, a celebrated contractor and bridge-builder, of Troy, Ind., and Edward H., a carpenter and contractor, of Troy, Ind. William W. , the subject of our sketch, moved with his parents to Troy, Ind., in the fall of 1831, where the old gentleman stiU resides, at the ripe old age of eighty-four. He is one of the oldest blacksmiths in the country, having been engaged in the the business over sixty years. William W. remained in Troy, Ind., until twenty -one, when he engaged in running flat-boats down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, La., until 1860. During this time he learned the carpenter and mason's trade, and followed carpentering and contracting during the summer season. Jan. 1, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie J. Ax- ton, of Rome, Ind., bom June 15, 1835. She was a daughter of Dr. Benjamin F. and Nancy (Olaycomb) Axton, natives of Ken- tucky and Indiana. After his marriage, Mr. Boulware located in Grand Yiew, Spencer Co., Ind., where he purchased, laid out and improved lots; at the same time worked at his trade of contractor and builder until the spring of 1869, when he sold and moved to Evansville, Ind., where he purchased property and engaged in the real estate business, still working at contracting and building. In 1871 he engaged in the mercantile trade, and opened a dry-goods and millinery store on Main street. In the winter of 1872 he re- moved his store to Flora, 111., left it in charge of his wife and went to Chicago, and assisted in rebuilding the city ; was one among 50,000 mechanics who were engaged in rebuilding the city after the great fire . In the winter of 1872 returned to Flora, 111. , and ran his store and engaged in contracting and building until the spring of 1872, when he was employed by the Union Atlas Com- pany, of Chicago, to assist in making the Illinois State atlas ; had charge of the men in thirteen counties of this State for one year. In 1876 returned to Flora, 111., and engaged in contracting and building, until 1879. During this time assisted in building the St. George Hotel in Evansville, Ind. In the fall of 1879 was em- ployed by the Philadelphia Publishing Company, and assisted in making cornty atlases for various counties in Kansas and Missouri. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. IST In August, 1881, left Wichita, Kas., for Flora, 111. Soon after went to Springfield, 111., and was employed in December, 1881, by the Inter-State Publishing Company of Chicago, publishers of State and county histories; is still working for this company. Mr. and Mrs. Boulware have had a family of nine children, five living — Benjamin "W., born in Grand View, Ind., Dec. 23, 1868, is em- ployed by the O. &M. Eailway;U'llie B., boi-n in Grand View, Ind., is the wife of Kichard Field, a carpenter and contractor of Spring- field, 111.; Louie L., born in Grand View, ^nd., Jan. 1, 1866; Mamie P., born in Evansville, Ind., in 1870, Lizzie, born in Flora, 111., Dec. 11, 1874, at home with their parents. Benjamin Brwnsford, retired merchant and tobacco manu- facturer, was born Dec. 1, 1819, in Cumberland County, Va. His family is of English origin, his great-grandfather being the first to emigrate to America, settling, probably, at Jamestown, Va. The family subsequently removed to Buckingham County, where his father, Benjamin Bransford, was born, who after- ward removed to Cumberland County, where he married Miss Lucy Hatcher, daughter of an old Virginian family, and was a planter by occupation. Benjamin and Lucy Bransford raised a large family of children of which the subject of this sketch is the youngest. His ancestors on both sides were long residents in, and respectably connected with the first families of, Virginia. His edu- cation was acquired in the common schools; and, rejecting his fa- ther's offer, to pursue a collegiate course, he left Virginia and came to Kentucky, with the view of engaging in the tobacco business. His cousin, W: H. Bransford, had erected a tobacco factory at Ow- ensboro in the spring of 1838, and there he joined him, bringing from Virginia a number of experienced stemmers. He actively assisted in the management of the establishment until the factory was destroyed by fire, in 1860. He then accepted a salaried posi- tion with H. Kerr & Co., in the same business. In the fall of 1852 he took charge of the factory of J. A. Dnnlap & Co., remaining until 1856, when he formed a partnership with Samuel W. Wing, with the purpose of carrying on a general dry-goods and tobacco business, he managing the tobacco interests of the firm. In 1852 he embarked in the tobacco trade on his own account, continuing with energy and success until the year 1873, when he retired to private life. His career as a business man has been one of great credit to himself, and, during his long connection with the tobacco business, he witnessed great development in the trade, there being Digitized by Microsoft® 438 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. at the time of his arrival in Owensboro but one factory in opera- tion, where there are now nineteen, and in this growth he bore a prominent part. In 1872 he was elected Mayor of Owensboro, dis- charging the duties of that oflSce with great credit and acceptabil- ity. At various time lie has served as member of the Town Coun- cil; was instrumental in organizing the Ohio Telegraph Company, and was its only president during its existence; was a member of the iirst Board of Directors of the Evansville, Owensboro & Nashville Eailroad, and in various ways has been conspicuous in developing the growth of Owensboro and surrounding country. At the beginning of the civil war, when the schools of Owensboro were in a sadly demoralized condition, he founded Bransford Fe- male Institute, and, at an expense to himself of about $35,000, built the institution, and kept it in successful operation for six years. In politics he remained with the old Whig party till its final dis- solution, and was actively interested in the election of General Hnr- rison, in 1840; but after the commencement of the civil war he iden- tified himself with the Democratic party, and, while sympathizing with the South, took no active part in the Rebellion. He is con- nected with the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and has always been prominently interested in all enterprises looking to the sub- stantial benefits of the community. His life has been characterized by great liberality, integrity, and public enterprise, deservedly •meriting and receiving the confidence and esteem of the commu- nity of which he has so long been a valuable member. Mr. Brans - ford was married in 1846 to Mary E. Athey, a native of Louisville, whose parents removed to Daviess County in 1844. They have reared a large family of children. John W. Braun. proprietor of sample room and restaurant, on Second, between St. Anne and Allen strepts, was born in Huff Township, near New Boston, Spencer Co, Ind., July 12, 1843, son of John and Caroline (Herring) Brown, natives of Germany. They had a family of thirteen children, John W., being the third- He worked on his father's farm, attending school in Spencer County, Ind., iintil eighteen. He v •■ m . ■'■' ' Feb. 9, 1869, to Catherina Vogel, a native of Spencer L y, Lid., and a daughter of Stf- -hen Vogel. In 1870 he came to Daviess County, Ky., and followv- 'arming three years in Upper Town Precinct. In 1.S73 he engaged in his present business. Mr. and Mrs. Braun are both members of the Lutheran church. They have four children — Emma, Sophia, Edward G. and Arthur. Mr. Braun is a member Digitized by Microsoft® OV.ENSBOEO. 489 of the Kiiiglits of IToiio.', Lodge No. 2,525. In politics he is a Democrat. Rohert Brodie, born March 6, 1847, in Nervelstone, County of Renfrew, Scotland, was a son of Robert and Marj (Fleming) Brodie. Mr. Brodie was educated in Scotland, and came to the United States in 18(!8; landed at New York, and settled in Owens- boro, Daviess Co. Ky. lie ens;agcd in the tobacco business as clerk, with Hugh, Kerr & Co., remaining with them two years. In 1S70 he formed a partnership with James S.iwyer, and built the large tobacco house now occupied by them. In 1873 he returned to Scotland, and was married to Margaret Reid, and immediately returned to Owensboro. They have lour children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Brodie has been a member of the First Pres- byterian Church since 1868. Edwin M. Brooks was born in Ohio County, Ky., April 24, 1844. His father, George Brooks, was a native of Virginia, and came to Kentucky when twenty-one years of age. He was married in Ohio County, to Elizabeth Havnes. He moved to Davie -s County in 1874, and settled in Whitesville, where he still resides. They had six children, four of whom grew to maturity — Edwin M., Columbus Estelle, Arretns P. and Demetrus F. (twins). Ed- win M. learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it eight years, five years of the time under other men. In 1871 he opened a livery stable at Whitesville, and contracted for taking the mail from Whitesville to Owensboro. June 1, 1882, he. came to Owens- boro and opened his livery stable, on East Main street. He was married in Feburary, 1878, to Kate Bozarth, of Grayson County, Ky. They have three children — Lois F., Roy G. and Hattie L. John Brotherton, born near Dayton, O., July, 1824, was, the eldest of two sons of William and Ann (Kennedy) Brotherton, natives of New York. His brother was William Brotherton, long a resident of New Orleans, where he died in 1881. His father died near Dayton, O. His mother married John Doherty, of Louis- ville, Ky. John's early life was therefore spent in Louisville, and he received a fair education in the city schools. He served an ap- prenticeship with Hays & Cooper, practical carriage manufact- urers. He then worked as a journeyman a while and carried on a small shop of his own in the country. In 1846 Mr. Brotherton came to Owensboro and went into partnership with J. J. Bowlds. In 1852 Mr. Bowlds died and Mr. Brotherton bought his interest and took John Mitchell, a blacksmith, as partner. He soon after Digitized by Microsoft® 440 HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOUNTT. sold out to Mr. Mitchell and went to Louisville, for the purpose of educating his children, as the schools in Owensboro were very deficient at that time. Owning considerable property in Owens- boro, his interests were here, and upon Mr. Mitchell selling out, he returned here and built a large shop where the Planters' Bank now stands. In 1864 he turned his shop into a tobacco factory and bought $30,000 worth of tobacco, the firm being Brotherton, Kearney & Co. The war closing at this time, they ceased buying and met with alarge pecuniary loss. He then sold his property to Murphy & Tolbert. He then went into the blacksmithing and wagon-making business again, under the firm name of Brotherton & Sutherland. In 1875 he soid out and bought a farm and remained there two years, when he returned here and bought the property where he is now doing business. His son is in partnership with him. They have a fine stable 45 x 134, with accommodations for fifty horses. He has been a member of the City Council two years. Mr. and Mrs. Brotherton have had nine children; six grew tomaturity — Ann E., married J. S. Lemar; Irene B., married S. K. Cox, of Hartford County, O.; Helen (deceased), married Thomas A. Barr, Mary F., married Tyler Lemar; Wm. A., married Jennie Parish; Fannie F. James P. Brown, son of P. H. and Matilda J. (Leamon) Brown, was born in Daviess County, Ky., Oct. 8,1853. His mother died in 1873. His father is a resident of Owensboro. He lived upon a farm until 1865 when he came to Owensboro and learned the carpenter's trade, working at it four years. In 1870 commenced clerking in his brother J. A.'s queen's-ware store and remained tliere eight or nine months. He afterward clerked for different parties till the fall of 1881 when lie bought a grocery store, but sold it the following spring. lu February, 1882, he, with Gr. S. McClin- tock opened a queen's-ware and crockery store on St. Ann street where they are doing a good business, keeping a lull line of crock- ery, glassware, notions, jewelry, tinware, etc. Mr. Brown is a member of the First Baptist Church. Has been a member of the Good Templars nine years. William O. Burnett, born Juna 15, 1837, in Louisville, Ky., is a son of Willis and Amy (Applegate) Burnett, the former a na- tive of Virginia, near Petersburg, and the latter of Louisville. His father died in 1874, and his mother in 1875. They had two children, William G. and Ophelia, wife of E. B. Trabue, of Owens- boro. William G. Burnett lived in Louisville until he was twenty- three years old. He learned the painter's trade; came to Owens- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORU. 4-il boro, July 5, 1S60, where he has since been engaged at his trade. In 1881 he made sash and doors a part of liis business. He doe.s a large contracting business, making it a specialty. He was mar- ried March 22, 1858, at Louisville, to Emma Mosbey, daughter of William Mosbey, deceased. They have an adopted son, William J. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett are members of the Christian church. Mr. Burnett is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Odd Fellows Encampment and Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a Re- publican. John W. Carter, son of John and Margaret (Fir.nigan) Carter, was born in Panola County, Miss., May 13, 1852. liis parents came to Owensboro in 1860. He received a common-school edn- cation and, in 1866, commenced to take care of himself by clerking in a drug store. From 1868 until 1872 he worked for Y. Ford & Co. In 1872 he bought out the firm of H. Wells & Son, and formed the new firm of Wells & Carter. A year later he sold out to J. T. Higginson and went to Louisville, where he remained a year ; then came back to Owensboro and bought out Mr. Wells, changing the firm to Carter & Higgins. In 18^7 they sold out to J. C. Schroeder. In 1878 he formed a partnership with P. T. Watkins, in the general insurance business, representing the oldest and most reliable home and foreign companies extant. Mr. Carter is Secretary of the Board of L^nderwriters of Owens- boro and vicinity. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and I. O. O. F. June 16, 1875, he married Kate Haney, daughter ot William and Maria (McKay) Haney. They have four children — Charles B., born Sept. 8, 1876; Maggie, born July 12, 1878; Louise, born April 25, 1880, and an infant, born April 1, 1882. S. L. Chambers^ general freight and passenger agent for the Owensboro & Nashville Railway, is a native of Indiana, and was born in Paoli, Orange Co., Ind., Jan. 2, 1852. He is a son ot Jonathan and Deborah (Stalkbet) Chambers, natives of North Carolina. They had a family of three sons and five daughters. S. L. was the second son and sixth child. When fourteen years old he removed with his parents to Danville, Boyle Co. ,Ky., where he attended school and studied telegraphy in the Western Union Telegraph office for four years. He then received a position as night operator at Elizabethtown, Ky., on the L. & N. Ry., where lie remained a short time, when he was appointed agent at Bards- town Junction for two years. He was then appointed assistant train dispatcher at Louisville, Ky. ; remained there eighteen months. Digitized by Microsoft® 442 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. and then was ticket and freight agent and operator for the same road at Franklin, Ky., a year. He then was private operator for D. W. Rowland, general superintendent for the L. & N. Ry., one year, when he was given the agency at Russell ville, Ky., and remained there three years. He was then appointed local agent for the O. & N. Ry., at Owensboro, for one month, when he was appointed general freight and passenger agent and train dispatcher of the O. & N. Ry. Mr. Chambers is also claim agent for this road. He married Lydia Simpson, June 12, 1879. She was born in Simpson County, Ky., and was a daughter of Samuel Simpson, brother of Senator Simpson, member of Congress. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have one daughter — Essie L., born June 11, 1880. Mrs. Chambers is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church; Mr. Chambers is ajmember of the Chosen Friend Lodge, No. 12, at Russellville, Ky., and has held the office of Prelate in this lodge. In politics he is a Democrat. He is of English and Scotch descent. His grandfather was in the war of the Revolution. John R. Chapman was born in Daviess County, Ky., July 21, 1842. His father, George R. Chapman, son of Aaron Chapman, was a native of Virginia and came to Daviess County with his par- ents when small. He married Mary, daughter of Abraham Crab- tree, an old settler of the county. They had seven children — Phil- emon, John R., Joseph, Garland (deceased), Malissa, Ellen, and "William (deceased). Mrs. Chapman died in 1856 and he married Mrs. Jane (Tanner) Bennett. They had two children — George and Emma. Mr. Chapman died Aug. 18, 1881, in his fifty-seventh year. Mrs. Chapman still lives on the homestead. John R. lived on a farm till sixteen years of age. He then traveled through the Western States four years. In 1863 he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, U. S. A., and was mustered out in 1865 at Springfield. He then settled near the old homestead and remained till 1872, when he came to Owensboro and was employed in the tobacco house of R. H. Wolflbrk & Co. several years. In 1880 he formed a partnership with J. B. Cruse, under the firm name of Cruse & Chapman. He was married in November, 1872, to Lee Kirk, daughter of John L. Kirk. They have one son — Arthur G. Mr. Chapman is a member of the First Baptist Church. W. H. Chatham, son of Benjamin and Nancy (Gates) Chatham, was born in Boyle County, Ky., Feb. 25, 1817. He received his education in the common schools of Boyle County. At sixteen years of age he learned the blacksmith's trade, but quit on account Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 443 of ill health. In 1842 he went to Hancock County, Ky., wliere he farmed two years; then went back to Boyle County, remaining two and a half years, and in 1847 came to Daviess County, locating in the western part of the county. He has followed fanning Jiere since. Mr. Chapman has. been Constable and Deputy Sherili, and also a Justice of the Peace. He was married in 1841 to Amanda Gates. Two children were born to them, one now living — Lydia, wife of E.. B. Nunn, of Owensboro. Benjamin died when twenty-six years old. Mrs. Chatham died in 1846, and in 1S49 lie married Mary Ann Polk. Slie died in 1872, and he married, in 1873, Mrs. M. A. Mahon. He is a member of the Baptist church. Politically he is a Republican. F. J. Clarke, tobacco mei'chant, Owensboro, was born in Halifax County, Va., June 21, 1842. His parents are E. II. and Mary (Robinson) Clarke, both natives of Virginia. He is the oldest of a family of five sous and four dangliters. He attended school un- til May, 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Virginia Confederate Cavalry, and was one of the four original companies at Appomattox; Va., when Lee surrendered. He then returned to Halifax County, and a short time after came to Owensboro and engaged in the to- bacco business. In 1882 he formed his present partnership with J. H. Hickman, under the tirm name of Clarke & Hickman. Feb. 27, 1867, Mr. Clarke married Ada A., daugliter of Benjamin and Mary (Athy) Bransford. They have three cliildren — Benjamin B., born Nov. 29, 1867; Frank R., May 18, 1876; and Mary L.. Dec. 14, 1881. Mr. Clarke is a Knight Templar MasDU ; a mem- ber of Ogden Lodge, No. 356, and Comniaudery, No. I.t. In 1881 he was appointed City Collect' u-. He has lield various offices of trust in the city. In ])()lities he is a Democrat. W/Jliam H. Clarke, tobacconist, son of P^rancis I. and Nancy (Hobson) Clarke, was born in Cumberland County, Va., March 8, 1829. He was tlie youngest ot seven cliildren, but tliree of wliotn ai-e living, two in Virginia. He was mai-ried Oct. 23, 18.5.5, to Sarah Catliarino, daugliter of Edward T. and Mary M. (Bransford; White. They were the parents of two sons — Edward II., born Aug. 21, 1856, married Miss Ileartley Tyler, daugliter of Wm. B. and Eliza (HawesiTyler; and Frederick William, born July 17, 1859. Mrs. Clarke died May 29, 187S. July 24, 1882, Mr. Clarke married Margaret, daugliter of Edwin Ilawes. Mr. Clarke is a Ruling El- dei' in the F'ourth Street Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Masonic order, Stephen F. Ogden Lodge, No. 356. Digitized by Microsoft® 444- IITSIUIIV <))■■ DAVILSS Ci'diVY. Fran.ris L. C^'mj'ton^ |ir<.>|u-ict(ir of Lcni Clayt.onV saini)le ruDiii^ and hilliiirti ]iarli)i>;, \^■a^ hoi'ii noar [javilstuwii, Nelt-on C)o,, Ky., N')\'. 3. isir.. aii.i is a ;-'>ii ot Jiilm and Maria ( II ayden) Ciityton, natives:'! Kentucky. Tiioy had a t'anii'iy of lour sons and S(n-fn *l;Mii;ii(fr'J, Fj'ancif L. Itcin^;' the eldest. He was reared on liii iatluTS farm, attcniiinti- rfchooi winters until fifteen, wlieii, Sept. 2i). ISOl, hecnii-ted in Gonijiiiny (i, Tenth Kentncdiy Infantry, as a dr-iiniiner l)ov. lie remained in t]io =erviee twenty-one irumtli^ f'j!dli\eda}s, wlienlio wa-3 dischari^ed on Jiccount of disahility ; he then returned liome and I'l.iUowed farniing two years when he oponed a b;doon at Lorotto, .^Marion (.^o.. Ivy., and )'eniainelican. G. IF. C'iffey was born in Casey County, Ky., June 7, L848. When twelve years old he came to Owensboro and remained till 1878. He then went to Me Henry Station and engaged in the coal business three yeaivs. He returned to Owensboro and, in partner- ship with H. W. Williams, opened the liveiy stable, situated on Main or Second 8ti-eet, between Allen and Daviess. He was niar- rii.'d April 15, 1809, to Lizzie Lewis, who was born in Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky., June 2, 1850. They have three children — Omo, born Jan. 26, 1S70; Oit., born Jan. 19, 1872; Alice, born Oct. 18, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Coli'ey are members of the Christian church. Oeorge Henri/ Cox, foreman of the Mes&enger and Examiner printing-office, was born in Ilawesville, Ky., April 16, 1863. In 1868 he came to OwcTisboro, entered the Monitor ofSce and learned the printer's art, where he has remained ever since, a quiet, indus- Digitized by Microsoft® 0WEN8B0E0. 445 trious man who praises not liimself. He is a membei* of the order of the Knights of Pythias, Clerk of the Walnut-Street Baptist Church, and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. His parents were Robert H. and Harriet Cox; the latter was formerly Mrs. Rue, nee Ashcraft, both natives of Kentucky. In November, 1876, he married Miss Mollie Brannon, a daughter of Jolm H. and Eliza- beth (Walden) Brannon, and they have one child — Ellis Pettit, born Jan. 26, 1882. Mrs. C. is also a member of the Baptist church. J. N. Courtney^ bookkeeper, Owensboro Savings Bank, was born in the city of Owensboro, March 25, 1861. He attended the com- mon and high schools of Owensboro until thirteen, when he entered the Center College, at Danville, Ky., finishing his studies in 1879. From 1876 until '77 he was messenger for the Planters' Bank ot Kentucky, now the First National. In 1879 he accepted his pres- ent position as bookkeeper of the Owensboro Savings Bank. In September, 1882, he formed a partnership with his brother, W. H. Courtney, in the drug business. Mr. Courtney is the second son of William T. and Mary E. (Lumpkin) Courtney, who had a family of six sons and three daughters. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Society, of Center College. He was appointed Notary Public in 1880. William, 7 di rtney was born Nov. 30, 1824, in Daviess County, Y His ther, Henry Courtney, was a native of King and Queen Count , Va., but came to Kentucky when a child, set- tling in Shelby County, where he grew to manhood, and married Harriet, daughter of William and Ann Lumpkin, who came from Virginia, and located first in Jefferson County, subsequently re- moving to Daviess. William T. lost his father when but two years of age, and his mother went to live with her father, and eight years later married Shadrach Tennison. He lived at home until six- teen, when he served an apprenticeship at the cabinet maker's .ade. On arriving of age he received a legacy from his father's .-■state, and went into the drug business with George N. Holmes. In 1848 he sold out to Holmes and went to Tennessee, prospecting for a new location. Failing to find one to suit him, he returned to Owensboro two years later. In 1850 he formed a partnership with Dr. James Conway, in the drug business, and continued with him till 1854, when he went to New Albany, Tnd., and re- mained until 1858, and then returned to Owensboro, where he is still doing business. ^H^w^^n^ried^l^ew Albany to Mary E. 446 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Lumpkin. They have eight children — William H., John IS"., Im- ogene, Robert L., Mary E., George T., Alice and Richard H. One soil, Charles Chaplin, died at the age of four months. Mr. Court- ney has been a member of the First Baptist Church since 1842. James B. Cruse^ born Jan. 29, 1828, in Daviess County, Ky., was a son of Thomas and Rachel E. (Barnhill) Cruse. His father was a native of Virginia, and came to Kentucky at an early date settling in Oldham County. He came to Daviess County in 1826, and was murdered in August, 1828, by Joseph Potts, during the three days' election. His mother was a native of Oldham County and died in 1871 at the age of sixty-three years. They had a family of three children — Zachariah, residing in Upper Town Pre- cinct; Elizabeth, deceased, and James B. Mrs. Cruse married Jasper Bristow, an old pioneer Baptist preacher of this county. James B. was reared on a farm. In 1847 he enlisted in the Mexi- can war, in Captain McOreery's company, Fourth Kentucky Regi- ment. He came out of the army in the City of Mexico in 1849; returned home in June, and went to farming. He sold his farm in 1854, and came to Owensboro, and engaged in the mercantile business till 1877. Since 1878 he has been engaged in the tobacco business. In 1880 he formed a partnership with J. R. Chapman, un- der the firm name of Cruse & Chapman. Mr. Cruse was Trustee of Owensboro before the city was incorporated, and was a member of the City Council in 1875-'76, and again in 1880-'81. He was mar- ried in 1852 to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Samuel G. Harrison. His wife died in 1854 leaving two children — Samuel D. and Eliza- beth A., afterward the wife of Dr. F. M. Clements, and now de- ceased. Samuel D. is in the mercantile business in Louisville. In November, 1855, Mr. Cruse married Mildred D., daughter ot Thomas King. They have had two children — Thomas, a gradu- ate of West Point in 1879, and now a Lieutenant in the U. S. army, and Zachariah, who died at the age of nine years. Mr. Cruse has been a member of the First Baptist Church since 1877. Burr Harrison Crittcher, son of Isaac and Sallie (Helm) Crutcher, was born Oct. 8, 1804, in Nelson County, Ky. His father was a farmer, and our subject received a limited education at Elizabeth- town, Ky. When seventeen lie started to learn the trade of a jeweler, but abandoned the project on account of ill health. His father died when he was but a small boy, and he was taken by an uncle, who lived in Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Ky. In 1825 he went to Brandenburg and sold goods for Mr. Wathen. Remained Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSHOUO. 447 until November, ISSfi, and went to tlio vilhigeot ]5ig Sjiring, wliore he remained tweiitj' years, sellin:,' ooods and trading,' in tobacco. In November, 1856, he removed to Daviess County and purcliascd u larm of filO acres, four miles east of Oweusboro, on the river. This farm he occupied until March 1, 1873. lie had twenty-two slaves, and duriujj his residence on the jdace he made some fine improvements in the way of tencino^, clearin:33, in Fetei-sljurg, ^'a., is a son of D;i\ id Diinlop, a initive of Scotland, who came to America in bSli', when eighteen ^ear.-. of age. David Dunlop'.s uncle, .James Dunlop, was the iir.^t man to export tobacco from the Fnited States to iMirojie (17S0-'!)(i'i. He put up the tir.st tobacco house in Fetersijurg, and carried on a large business for several years. Duvid Dunlop was also a large tobacco ex])ortor in Virginia. He married Anna ]\Iercer Mingc, whose nn.ither was a .-ister of Presi- dent Ilai'rison. She died in ISoi, and Mr. Dunlop a week later, llicy left three children, all now living. B'^bort Dunloi) lived in !\.terslnirg till llfteim year.-, of age, when he went to Scotland and •i.nenile.1 school tliree years. He tlien returned to Virginia and !i l-^.■):2 came to Owensboro. but went buck t(^ \^ir-inia so(in after. ilio father had a half interest in the tobacco house of John A. roinlo]), and in 1.S.-.2 gave halt his interest to Bubert. He remained m Virginia engaged in the toba"eo business till Isfis,, .^^.j|,,].j {^^ .same again to Owensboro, at the death of his uncle, John A Dun- lop, and with his brother James bought the entire interest in the Ji-Mise. They continued together till bsV.o when, at the death of his Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 451 brother, who resided in Virginia, Mr. Dunlop bought the whole business. In 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate army in a private company of cavalry, from Petersburg. It was of short life, as at the "Crater battle " around Petersburg, all of the company ex- cept Mr. Dunlop were killed or taken prisoners, he being absent at tlie time. lie served two years, and was discharged in 1861:, on account of disability. He was married in 18.57 to Mary C. Hob- ertson, a native of Manroe County, W. Ya., born in 1838. They have four children, two sons and tw.) daughters. Anthony Efjei\ manufacturer and dealer in stoves, tinware, castings, grates, mantels, etc., on Main street, between Daviess and Lewis, established his present business in May, 1869. He started witli a small capital, but by honest dealing and close applica- tion to business has succeeded in his business. He has a complete stock of imported and domestic goods valued at $4,000. He owns and occupies a building^two stories high, 115 feet deep and twenty feet wide; sixty-five feet front for store and sample room and fifty for shop and warehouse. Mr. Eger is a native of Grermany and was born in Wurtemberg, Oct. 21, 1843, son of Simon Eger, who was a stone mason in Germany, and at present insurance agent in Troy, 'Ind. He and wife had two sons and one daughter. An- thony was the eldest son. In 1846 or 1847 he came with his par- ents to the United States and settled in Louisville. K}'., where he attended school until ten, when he moved with his parents on a farm near Troy, Ind. ; remained there until 1864 when he went to Rockport, Ind., where he engaged in the tinner's business with his brother-in-law, Henry Deshler, for two years. Mr. Eger tlien sold his interest and came to Owensboi-o, Ky. , and established his pres- ent business. Mr. Eger was married in Rockport, Ind., April 2, 1866, to Rachel Fleshinger, a native of (Germany, and a daugh- ter of Mathias Fleshinger, a millei' of Lockport, Ind. Mr. Eger and wife have seven children, five living — Simon P., born in Rock- port, July 0, 1867, engaged in business with his father; (Toorge H., born in Owensboro, Oct. 20, 1809; A. M. Kate, born in Owensboro, Sept. 25, 1871; Elizabeth, born in Owensboro, Dec. 11, 1873; Edward W., born Oct. S, 1876; Anna M., born Nov. 16, 1878, died Jnly 5, 1880; Lena, born Oct. 12, 1SS2, died Oct. 14, 1882. The mother died Nov. 'I, l'., tobacco merchant, was born in Bardstown, Ky., March 17, 1852, son of "William A. Hickman, M. D., a leading physician at Springfield, 111. He was about four- teen years of age wlien he moved with his parents to Daviess County. He attended the St. Joseph College in Bardstown, Ky., two years, then attended the University at Springfield, 111., for one year. He then returned home to Daviess County, and began the study of medicine with his father, graduating at the Medical University at Louisville, Ky., in 1875. He practiced five years with his father, and then located in Owensboro and engaged in the drug business until 1880, when he engaged in tobacco business, forming his present partnership with F. J. Clark, under the firm name of Clark & Hickman. They have one of the oldest and largest factories in the city. Dr. Hickman married Adele H. Jack- son,in Owensboro, Oct. 1, 1877. She was born near Masonville, Daviess Co., Ky., a daughter of James S. and Sue (Hawes) Jack- son. Dr. and Mrs. Hickman are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. They have two children— Virginia A., born May 28, 1878, and William Christopher Jackson, born April 18, 1881. Dr. Hickman is a member of Star Lodge No. 19, K. of P. He is Director in the First National Bank of Owensboro. In politics he is a Democrat. Digitized by Microsoft® 464 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. E. A. Eigdon^da.xQ'i Q\evkioT Joseph Rothchild, Owensboro, was born in the city of Owensboro, June 27, 1839. He attended school here until twenty when he commenced clerking for Solomon Kigel and remained with him one year. Then was with J. H. Millett and Taylor & Millett three years. He clerked for various parties until 1875, when he accepted his present position with Mr. Eothchild. Mr. Higdon married Miss Louella Mitchell Dec. 6, 1859. She was a daughter of J. B. Mitchell, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Higdon are members of the Catholic church. They have had six children, five living— Joseph P., Anna M., John T., Kobert and Wirt J. Manuel died, aged three years and three months. Politically Mr. Higdon is a Democrat. He was the eldest son of the six children of Thomas H. and Catherine M. (Mattingly) Higdon, five of whom are living. J. T. Higgins, born in Knottsville Precinct, Daviess Co., Ky., Aug. 31, 1840, is a son of John B. and Eliza (Higdon) Higgins, His father was born at Greenbrier, Va., in 1812 and died in November, 1882. His mother was born in Nelson County, Ky., and is now living with her son in Owensboro aged sixty-one years. There were two children — J. T. and Henry, both residents of Owensboro. Mr. Higgins came to this city with his parents "when small and was educated here and at St. Joseph's College, Bards- town, Ky. In 1855 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. W. Compton, now of Evansville, Ind. The next year he went into the drug store of S. J. Howard, to learn the trade of a druggist. He was there a year and then went to St. Joseph's College and remained a part of two years. He then returned to Owensboro and resumed the study of medicine with Drs. J. W. Compton and J. F. Kimbley, with the intention of becoming a physician. He remained with them a year and a half when the war broke out, and he went with Dr. Kimbley, as a medical cadet, in the Eleventh Kentuckj' Yolunteer Infantry. In the spring of 1862 he was com- missioned Assistant Surgeon of the regiment and served until October, 1864, when lie was discharged at Bowling Green, Ky. Ai'ter his return to Owensboro he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, under J. G. Harrison, and held that office a year. In 1866 he wen t into the sewing-machine business, having four counties under his supervision. In 1874 he formed a partnership with V. P. Wells in the drug business, under the firm name of Wells & Higgins. At the end of the year Mr. Wells retired, J. W. Carter taking his place and changing the name to Carter & Higgins. Feb. 1, 1876 Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 465 they sold the business to J. C. Schrader. In A.ugu8t, 1876, Mr. Hig- gins opened a store in Knottsville, bnt only remained there till October, 1877. Jan. 3, 1878, he opened a store in Owensboro on Third street, where he remained two yeai's and theti removed to his present location, known as the Planters' House drug store. Dec. 20, 1865, lie married Kate N., daughter of Eichard S. and Mira (Riley) Windsor. She was born in Daviess County, and educated at Louisville, Ky., and St. Francis Academy, Owensboro. They have three children — Eloise, John K. and Eobert P. Two children, Ida M. and Josepli, died in infancy. Mr. Higgins has been connected with the Catholic church from his infancy. Mrs. Higgins's father died in 1818 and her mother in 1858. J. M. EodgJcins, born in ]S''elson County, Ky., April 15, 1821, was a son of James H. and Mary Elizabeth (Emerson) Hodgkins. His father was a farmer and came to Daviess County in 1832, settling in the upper part of the county, but afterward removed to the lower part, where he died in 1862. His mother died in 1869. J. H. was the second of seven children. He was educated in Bullitt County, Ky., and assisted his father on the farm till twenty-three years of age. He then farmed for himself a few years, after which he engaged in the mercantile business, near Knottsville. He re- mained there three years, and has since been engaged in merchan- dising in different parts of the county. He conducted a merchant mill in this county four years. Mr. Hodgkins has served as Con- stable, and in 1863 was elected Justice of the Peace. He has held that office sixteen years, and is at present an incumbent. He was married July 2, 1841, to Margaret A. Adams. Seventeen children were born to them, seven now living — James A., John T., Joseph H., Kosetta A., Lou B., Marion A. and Henry. Mrs. Hodgkins died in 1876. Mr. Hodgkins is now living in Owensboro, and at the age of sixty-two is apparently in the prime of life, enjoying good health, and commanding the respect of all who know him. He is a member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife. Polit- ically he is a Democrat. W. II. Johnson, proprietor of Johnson & Palmer's sample room and billiard parlors, Owensboro, Ky., was born in Owens- boro, ]Vov. IS, 1849, and was a son of W. J. and Eliza (Briston) Johnson, both natives of Kentucky. His father died in 1875, and his mother in 1880. She was a member of the Baptist churchi Thev had a family of ten children, two sons and two daughters living — Henrietta, wife of J. C. Ashburne; Harriet, wife of Thomas 30 Digitized by Microsoft® 466 HISTOBY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Palmer; George W. and W. H. W. H. worked with his brother- in-law, J. C. Ashby, in the hotel and saloon business, in Owens- boro, until June, 1882, when he formed a partnership with Robert Bailey and opened Johnson's sample rooms, in Monarch building on Frederica street. ,In October, 1882, Thomas Palmer bought Mr. Bailey's interest. They are fitted up in first-class order. They have a fiist-class sample room and keep a full line of imported and domestic wines and liquors. They also have a fine billiard hall. Messrs. Johnson & Palmer pride themselves on keeping the best sample rooms in the city. Samuel D. Eennady, the oldest male citizen born in the city now living, was born July 3, 1823. His father, Isaac Kennady, a native of Bullitt County, Ky., was one of the oldest merchants of the city, and a brother of Peter Kennady, of whom Collins gives an account in his " History of Kentucky," as being captured by the Indians ^nd kept a prisoner ten years. He married Lydia Dyson, a native of Bullitt County, in 1821. Saftuel D. is the oldes of their five children, three of whom are living. His father died Aug. 8, 1844. His mother is still living. He received hia ednca-r tion in Owensboro. He was married Nov. 19, 1846, to Melvina, daughter of J. H. McFarland. To them have been born sevem children, three now living. In the spring of 1856 he commenced in the mercantile business, at which he continued twenty 3'earfe. Since 1876 he has been President of the Owensboro and Evans- ville Telegraph Co. Since the fall of 1878 he has been actively engaged in life insurance. Mr. Kennady was first Chairman of the Board of Trustees before the city was incorporated. He was Mayor of Owensboro six years. He was one of the first Directors of the Owensboro & Russellville Railroad ; was President of the road a year, and associated with it six years. He has been a member of the First Baptist Cliurch since 1848. Mr. Kennady has always been prominently and actively engaged in the business interests of the county. ■ Miijor W. E. Kilgore, United States Gauger, Owensboro, is a native of Yirginia, and was born in Scott County, July 20, 1847. His father, Charles G. Kilgore, was born in Scott County, Va., where he was married to Elizabeth Bevins, daughter of Captain James Bevins, a Representative to the Virginia Legislature a number of years. Charles G. Kilgore was a practicing physician for twenty years. In 1849 he removed to Lawrence County, Ohio, and settled near Irontown, where he practiced until his death, Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 467 which occurred April, 1865. His wife died in 1857. Major "W.E. Kilgore was the second son and third child of their eight children, lie was but three years old when he removed with his parents from Virginia to Lawrence Countj^ Ohio. He remained on his father's farm, attending school until fifteen, when on June 2, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry; served-' as private in the company until 1862, when he re-enlisted in Com- pany B, Thirty-ninth Kentucky Mounted Infantry Volunteers, as First or Orderly Major; and in July, 1864, was commissioned Sergeant; remained in this company and regiment actively in the field until Aug. 9, 186-1, when he was wounded with a musket ball in the right knee at the battle of Burning Springs, Magoffin County, Ky. He was then in the general hospital at Ashland and Coving- ton, Ky., until June 12, 1865. He was in the battles of Buchanan, Gauly Bridge, Cheat Eiver, Horse Shoe Bend, Saltvilie, Hazel Green, Lexington, and Burning Springs, Ky., and several others. Atthe close of the war he returned to Lawrence County, Ohio, and finished up his academic course and read law until March, 1874, when he began to read law with tlie Hon. E. W. Bag by, atPaducah, Ky., and was admitted to the bar soon after; formed a partnership with him and Judge Marshall and engaged in the practice of law until January, 1881, when he was appointed United States Ganger at Owensboro. He is at present Commander of James S. Jackson Post, No. 3, G. A. E., headquarters at Owensbjro. Major Kil- gore married Mary E. Collier, Dec. 8, 1876. She was born in Mc Cracken County, Ky., and was educated and reared in Padu- eah. Her father was C. C. Collier, for many years a wholesale merchant of Paducah, Ky. Major Kilgore is a member of the Methodist Episcopal, and his wife of the Christian church. They have three children — Mousie, born Feb. 24, 1877; Zola and Blaine. In politics he is a Republican. He is of Scotch and English descent. Gcnge A. KoUenherg, manufacturer and dealer in stoves and tinware, corner of Second and Triplett streets, was born in Evansville, Ind., Aug. 26, 1846, and is a son of August and Christina (Schultze) KoUenberg, natives of Germany, who came with their parents to America when children. They are both living at Owensboro, and have had a family of eight children — three sons. George A. was the eldest. He remained in Evans- ville, Ind., until three years of age, when he came with his parents to Owensboro. When about sixteen years of age he went Digitized by Microsoft® 4:68 IIISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUMTV. to San Antonio, Texas, and roniaiiied till ]S6.->. when lie returned to Owensboro, and learned the tinner's trade. Jan. 16, ISfSS, he married Lotta E. Erown, a native of Owensboro, and a daugh- ter of Preston 11. and jMatilda (Leanian) J3rown. After his mar- riage Mr. Kollenbei'g ojiened a grocery store, and engaged in that business eighteen months; then opened a tin and stove store in Morgantield, Union Co., Ky., where he remained until 1876, when he and his In-other-in-law, George Err)\vn, took a tour down the Ohio and Mississipjn rivej's to Memphis, Tenn. Thence to Little Rock, Ark., Kansas City, Si. J.ouis, Mo., Keokuk, la , and Edwardsville, III., where Mr. Jvollenbei'g worked seven months; then ti-aveled for a wholesale tin, stove, and house-furnish- ing house, through Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana, until Novem- ber, 18S2, when he established his present business in Owensboro. lie occupies a building 70 x '20 feet, and carries a complete stock of stoves and tinware. Mr. and Mrs. KoUenberg have four chil- dren— Frederic G., born Feb. 20, 1869; Samuel A., born Jan. 6, 187-2, died Sept. 26, 1874; Artie M., born Nov. 9, 1875; Harry P., born Dc'c. 10, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. KoUenberg are members of the M. E. cliurch. lie invented the little family " apple cutter " which he patented and still owns. He was quite a sportsman in base-ball circles, and received the prize as thrower in left field, and various other )irizes as a ba-e ball player. Charles K. Lehrh-rg^zow of Kaufman and Celia (Itosenfeld) Lobr- berg, was born in Albany, N. Y., April 27, ]S52. At sixteen j-ears of age he irradnated at the Albanj' Academy, and then entered the mercantile business in his native city, and subsequently was with Stern Bros., of New York Citj', and at other points. October, 1876, he removed to Owensboro, where his parents had preceded him. Here be formed a partnership with his brother in the clothing hujiness, under the firm name of C. vSr S. Lehrberg. They dis- solved in 1S79, since which date Mr. Lehrberg has been managing the gents' furnishing and hat bu-iness for J. Wily, corner of Main and FrederJca streets. Mr. Lehrberg was married Oct. 17, 1876, to Mies Bertha Wily, of Vinton, Iowa. They have one child — Edna, born Oct. 8, 1877. He and wife are members of the Congrega- tion Adath Israel. He has passed the chairs in the order of K. of P.; is a member of the Independent Order of Workingmen, and of the B'nai Britli, a Jewish organization. S- W. Long was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., in 1839. His father was Rev. William C. Long, a clergyman in the Cumberland Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 469 Presbyterian church. He was a native of North Carolina. In the war of 1812 Wm. Long fought under General Andrew Jackson. He moved to Kentucky in an early day and settled in Breckinridge County, where he died in 183i. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Crutcher, a native of Jessamine County, Ky. After the death of her husband Mrs. Long moved from Breckinridge County to Louisville. At this time S. W. Long was but seven years of age. It was here he spent his boyhood days and was reared to ma- turity, or to the age of about twenty. During the war Mr. Long served in the Confederate service under General John H. Morgan. He served until the close of the war, and was one of the escort who accompanied President Davis and his cabinet from Charlotte, N. C. , to Washington, Ga. Mr. Long was married Jan. 23, 1866, to Annie A. Weeks, at Louisville, Ky., and in 1877, in company with Mrs. Long, went to Grahamtown, Ky., and engaged as machinist and engineer at the cotton factory there, remaining three and a half years, when, in 1872, they moved to Owensboro, where he bought the interest of J. A. Castlen in the Owensboro City Foundry and Machine Shops, in which he continued under the firm name of Guthrie & Long until Mr. Bransford was taken in as partner, the style of the firm now being Guthrie, Long & Bransford. Mr. and Mrs. Long have five children, who were born in the order given — Effie Lee, William Force, Courtney Austin, Bessie Christ- man, Herbert Steele. In his religious convictions Mr. Loiig worsliips in the faith of his father, and is now an Elder in the Cumberland- Presbyterian church, in Owensboro. Wm. Lossie c& Co. — This house was opened by Wm. Lossie in April, 1863. The following year his step- father took a partnership with him, the firm name being H. Alms & Co. In 1865 Mr. Alms sold out to Mr. Lossie, who remained alone till Sept. 1, 1872, when a partnership was formed between Wm. Lossie, J. C. Frederick and A. J. Alms, under the firm name of Wm. Lossie & Co. Their store is located on Main street, between St. Ann and Allen; size of store, 22x90, two stories high; yearly sales of 188L, nearly $iO,- 000. It is the oldest hardware house in the city. Previous to 1880 the stock consisted of stoves and tinware. In the fall of 18S0 they fitted up copper works and did a large amount of distillery work. In the spring of 1882 they added a stock of hardware and agricultural implements. William Lossie, born in Germany, June 16, 1842, was a son of Henry and Johanna (Holtz) Lossie. He came to Aiherica with his mother in 1846 and located in Van^er- Digitized by Microsoft® 470 HI&TIJRY OF DAVIEhS COUNTY. burg County. She lived on a farm four or live years and then moved to Evansville. In ISiS she married Ilenry Alms, a native of Germany. They had four sons, two of whom grew to maturity. In the spring of 1863 they came to Owensboro and lived till the spring of 1806; tiien returned to Evansville where his motlier died in 1873. William Lossie commenced to learn the tinner's trade with Cratz & Heilman, of Evansville, when about thirteen years of age. He worked for various parties till April, 1862, when he came to Owensboro, in the meantime spending six months in New Or- leans. The iirst nine months he was here he worked for Chailes Cook, and Jan. 26, 1863, went into business for himself. Mr. Los- sie was mairied in 186i to Eva, daughter of Henry Frederick. They have had eight children, six now living. George D. Mattingly, born Oct. 26, 1851, in Gi-een County, Ky., is a son of James M. and Lncretia (Stinnett) Mattingly, natives of Kentucky. His fatlier died Oct. 15, 1876, aged fifty-one years, and his mother in June, 1880, aged fifty years. George D. was reared on a farm, and when sixteen went to St Mary's College. Two years later he returned home and went into business with his father at Grissom's Landing. He was mairied April 30, 1874, to Mar- garet, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Taylor) Miller. She was born May 11, 1856, in Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky., but came to Daviess County when two years old. He built a residence in 1875 at a cost of $8,000, ai.d it was destroyed by fire in 1S76. He at first was very successful in business but afterward met with reverses tliat resulted in a failure. In 1878 he came to Owensboro, and by the help of friends bought a half interest in the "Washington Hotel, the firm being Washburn & Mtittingly. After a year he bought Mr. Washbui-n's interest, and continued alone doing a very success- ful business till June, 1882, when he bought the Planters' House and associated Alex. Morel and with him as a ]iartner. In May, 188], he 0]:>ened a wholesale liquor house. In October, 1881, M. V. Monarcli took a halt interest in the business, the firm name being Geo. I). Mattingly & Co. Jan. 1, 1882, F. J. Monarch en- tered the company as a partner, the firm remaining the same. The capital stock is from $40,000 to §50,000, doing an annual business of i? 175,000 to S200,000. In September, 1881, he and Mr. AVash- burn leased the bar of the steamer liobert E. Lee for a year, pay- intc $5,500 in advance. Tliey had a successful year and the following Se])tember re-leased it. In less than a month the steamer was destroyed by fire, Washburn A: Mattingly losing $2,500. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKO. 471 When Mr. Mattinglj' failed lie was owing between $4,000 and $5,000 to friends who had endorsed for him, but, has since that time paid tlie entire indebtedness. Mr. and Mrs. Mattingly have two cliildren — Herbert Estill, born May 7, 1875, and Pauline, born Jnne 19, 1S77. J. G. Mattingly, born near Hardinsbnrg, Breckinridge Co., Ky., Jan. 6, 1S47, is a son of James and Martha (Eerch) Mattingly natives of Kentucky. They have a family of seven sons and four daughters, five sons and three daughters living, J. C. being the sixth son and seventh child. Feb. 4, 1&72, he married Sue Wootton, a native of Nelson County, Ky., and a daughter of William and Hosalia (Combs) Wootton. After his marriage he located on Frederica street, one mile south of town, and farmed and traded in stock. In 1879 he opened a saloon on Fredrica street, and six months later bought the grocery now owned by W. II. Hite. In five months he sold out aiid established a general junk business, traveling over Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee for three years; then began clerking in the grocery store of W. H. Ilite and remained with him until Feb. 1, 1883, when he accepted his present position with Charles Denser. Mr. and Mrs. Matt- ingly are both members of the Catholic church. They have four children — James W., Joseph C, Mary A. and Anna G. Mr. Mattingly is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and in politics is a Greenbacker. Miles P. Mattingly, son of George and Catharine (Miles) Mat- tingly, was born Sept. 20, 1841, in Kelson County. lie has been connected with the farming interests from his boyhood: latterly has been interested to a larwe extent in live-stock. In 1876 he formed a partnership with Mr. Lancaster in the distillery, and in a short time bought out his interest. He was married in June, 1874, to Ruth Ilogan, daughter of Sylvester and Eachcl M. (Daveiss) Hogan, and a native of this county. They have two children — Philip 0., born Feb. 13, 1^77, and C. Anna. They lost two chil- dren in infancy. T. W. McAtee, born Nov. li). 1S50, in Jkrdstown. Ky., is a son of I5unjamiii L. and Miirgarut fWilson) McAtee. Ho graduated from the St. I.oui^^ Univcr-ity in June, 1^70. Tlio next seven years he was eni[ii with Piiillips Bros., and eanie to ()\VL-n-bon\ He was married in 1878 to Sallie, Digitized by Microsoft® 473 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. daughter of E. H. Rowntree, of Lebanon, Ky. They have one daughter — Margaret R. Mr. McAtee is a member of the Presby- terian church. RoIpH p. McJohnston. horn in Vanderbnrg County, Ind., June 23, 1S42, is a son of Kinlock and Mary Ann (McCutcheon) Mc- Johnston. lie Avas reared and educated in Evansville. He en- listed in tlie war of the Rebellion in August, 1862, in Company H, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. lie enlisted as private and was promoted to Second and First Lieu- tenant, and then Captain of his company, commissions all signed by Oliver P. Morton. He was mustered out in July, 1865, and returned to Evansville. In November, 1868, he came to Owens- boro and opened a retail grocery. In 1877 he formed a partner- ship with his brother in the wholesale businesi^, under the firm name of McJohnston Bros. This name was afterward changed to J. & R. McJohnston, then to McJohnston & Reinhardt. Mr.Mc- Johnston then withdrew and opened in his present business house on Main street, between Crittenden and Lewis streets, as R. Mc- Johnston & Co. His yearly sales are from $350,000 to $375,000. He was married in April, 1874, to Julia, daugliter of S. K. Morris. W. Y. MoPherson, of the firm of McPherson & Drabbelle, dealers in shelf and heavy hardware, plow, wagon and buggj' ma- terial, plumbing, steam and gas-fitting supplies, grates, mantles, chandeliers, betting guns, pistols, etc., Main street, between St. Ann and Allen, was born in Louisville, Ivy., Aug. 7. 1858, and was connected with the banking business there until October, 1880, when he removed to Owensboro, and in partnership with Mr. Drabbelle engaged in the business which he now so successfully con- ducts. He was married Feb. 15, 1882, to Miss Katie Roy Binford, of Richmond, Va. Both are membej's of the First Presbyterian Church of Owensboro. His father is an old settler of Louisville, Ky., and is now engaged in the manufacture of plows and wagons, being President of the Louisville Agricultural Works, and "White Oak Wagon Company of Holly Springs, Miss. ; also financial man- ager of B. F. Avery & Co.'s Plow Works of Louisville. He was barn in Edinburg, Scotland, about 1S33 ; came to America when ten years old, settling in Louisville, where he has since lived. He is one of the substantial business men of the city, and a man com- manding the respect and conlidence of all. Ahsalom B. MllUi\ born Jan. 13, 1832, in Daviess County, was a son of Flemming and Sally (Crawford) Miller, natives of Vir- Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 47g ginia and North Carojina respectively. His mother was a daugh- ter of Nathan and Nancy (Sicks) Crawford. Mr. Miller lived on a farm till 1875, when he was appointed Collector of State and county revenue. In 1881 he was elected to fill the unexpired term of E. C. Davis, resigned. In August, 1882, he was elected Sheriff of Daviess County. Prior to this he had served as Consta- ble four years. He married Marj' A., daughter of Payton and Jane (Fostier) Simpson, of Todd County, Ky. The}' had six children — William P.,. born Jan. 3, 1858; Carrie V., now Mrs. T. B. Demaree, born Dec. 19, 1860; Sally B., born June 29, 1862; James Emmett, born March 4, 1864; Charles B., born Feb. 24^ 1866; Matilda E., July 6, 1868. Mrs. Miller died Sept. 7, 1877. Oct. 15, 1S7S, Mr. Miller married Mrs. Alice (Talbott) Murphy, daughter of James Talbott. Mr. Miller is a member of the Ma- sonic order and Knights of Pythias. John A. Millti\ born Jan. 31, 1846, in Daviess County, Ky?, is a son of P. J. and Julia Ann Miller. He was principally educated in Daviess County. He lived at home till nearly twenty-six years of age, when he went to farming, at the same time putting up to- bacco in the winter and spring, for his father. Sept. 30, 1880, he came to Owensboro, and has since been engaged in the tobacco business. He was married Sept. 21, 1871, to Sallie E., daughter of George Ray, deceased. They have two children — Leila Pearl and Altha Attrice. One child, Dora Mortimer, died Aug. 16, 1878, aged about one year. Mr. Miller has been a member of the Missionary Baptist church sixteen years. Pleasant J. Miller, born May 11,1820, in Spencer County, Ky., is a son of Flemming and Elizabeth Allen (Alley) Miller, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Kentucky soon after their marriage, and settled in Shelby County; remained there four years and then moved to Spencer County, and three years later to Daviess County, and located on the banks of the North Panther Creek, where he liad a farm of 160 acre^. His wife died in 1822, leaving four children — David Allen, William Jefferson, Mary Ann, and Pleas- ant J., all dead but the latter. In 1825 Mr. Miller married Rosa Bossel, a native of Virginia, but a resident of Shelby County, Ky., who died in 1827. In 1828 he married Sallie Crawford, a native of North Carolina, residing in Daviess County. She died in 1842, leaving five children— James C, Absalom B., Nancy H., Henry C, and Elizabeth, now deceased. In 1844 Mr. Miller married Elizabeth Coplin, a native of Illinois, who is still living. Mr. Mil- Digitized by Microsoft® 474 IIISTOKY uF UAVIES^; (JOCXTV. ler died June 29, 1S60. lie was born in 1701, and had been a fuc- cessfnl farmer. Pleasant J. lived at home till he was twenty-onje years ,.t' .i^(. . The next 3-ear he raised a crop on his father's i'arm ; thou v.orJa'd out by the day, buying his ax on credit. In hit- twenty-fourth year he raised a crop on Joseph Dawson's farm, vith whom he was living. Nov. 14, 1844, he married Jnlia Ann INfiller, a cousin. He then Vought a piece of land of his father on credit. lie lived on it a year and then sold it back to his father and bought a fann of 120 acres on the Ii*-chlield road on credit. He lived there tventy-nine years, having made five additions and owning 700 acres when he iett it. His products were general farm- ing, liogs, cattle and tobacco. When he first boitght the farm it was in a poor condition, but he made it one of the finest farms in the county. He lived in a log house twelve years and then built a fine brick residence. In 1865 he put up a tobacco house and turned a great deal of his attention to raising and buying tobacco and pre- paring for shipment. Sept. IS, 1875, he moved to Owensboro, whert he still lives. While living on the farm he put uj) tobacco in Selvin Ooanty, Ind., a year. In 1876 he put up his large to- bacco house on Sixth street, which he still occupies. He has been a careful business manager, and his work has been very successful. Like many other men, Mr. Miller has met with severe losses during his busines:* career. Duiing the war he lost several slaves, amount- ing to $6,000. Before he built bis factory on the tarm, he had a barn that was tilled with tobacco to cure, destroyed by fire; loss, ^3,000. At one time lie bought a lot of tobacco at a high price in Loiiisville, and after keeping it some time sold it at a loss of §3,000, owing to the decline in tobacco. Mr. Miller's wife died June 13. 1S75. She was boi'i. Feb. 12. 1S2S. They had a family of nine children — John Allen, born uan. 31. 1846; James Thomas, born Jan. 7, 1848; William Edwin, born Aug. 6, 1S50; George Wash- ington, born May 18, 1S54, died in June, ISso; Philmore Jack- son, born Sept. IJ, 18.5(1; Kobert Crittenden, born Aug. 13. 1859; Amos Chamberlain, twin brother of Robert Crittenden, died Sept. 22, 1859; David Crockett, born Feb. 5, 1862, and Mary Elizabeth, born Nov. 24, 1864. April 10, 1876, Mr. Miller married P. Whitehead, a native of llodgeiisville, La Rue Co., Ky., born Sept. 15, 1845. They had one son who died in infancy. Aug. 26, 1880, Mr. Miller's house, barn and their contents were destroyed by fire; loss, $6,000; insurance, 82,000. While attempting to res- cue his horses, Mr. Miller was caught in the fiames and verv badly Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 475 burned; had not assistance come to him he would ha^e burned to death. He was laid up about a year from the effects of it, and has never fully recovered. Id 1881 he built his present fine residence on the site of his former home on Fourth street at a cost of $5,000. Mr. Miller has been a member of the Missionary Baptist churcti since 1837. Edwin P. Millett, the youngest son of Maurice and Honorah (Maher) Millett, was born in Vincennes, Ind., May 20, 1S56. His parents dying when he was an infant, he was brought to Kentucky and resided with relatives in Henderson, until 1869. Circum- stances rendering it necessary that he should earn his own liveli- hood, his opportunities for securing an education were very meager, and after two years at school he left Henderson, going on the river in the capacity of clerk. He was employed on dif- ferent boats plying the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, and Ten- nessee rivers. In 1875 he left the river to accept the position of bookkeeper in a mercantile house at Henderson where he re- mained till 1877 when he came to Owensboro and became as- sociated with M. V. and Eichard Monarch, the well-known dis- tillers, in the wholesale liquor business under the firm name of Monarch Bros.& Millett. In 1878 M. V. Monarcii withdrew and the remaining partners continued the business. In 1880 the firm of E. P. Millett & Co., distillers, consisting of Mr. Millett, R. Monarch and W. H. Monarch, was established. The property of this firm is located one mile east of Owensboro, on the Ohio River, and is one of the most complete distilleries in the State. The brand of this firm known to the trade as the " Millett" is sold in nearly every State in the Union. The financial and general management of both the above firms has been entirely in the hands of Mr. Millett. Nov. 19, 1878, Mr. Millett was married to Susan C. Spalding, fifth daughter of Robert A. and Ellen (Lancaster) Spalding, of Union County, Ky., who died at Owensboro, March 17, 1882, and was buried at the Catholic cemetery at Saint Vincent, Union Co., Ky. Mrs. Millett left two children— Mary Honorah, born Oct. 4, 1879, and Robert Ignatius Spalding, born June 27, 1881. Mr. Millett is a Roman Catholic as were all of his ancestors. He is also a member of the Catholic Knights of America and was selected by the State Convention of that order held at Louisville in April, 1882, as one of two delegates to represent the State of Ken- tucky at the National Council of the order held at St. Louis, May 5, 1883. Digitized by Microsoft® 476 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Colin R. Milne, of the firm of Harrison, Milne & Todd, under- takers, Owensboro, was born in Murrayshii-e, Scotland, in March, 1816, and was a son of Alexander and Jane (Smith) Milne, who bad a family of three sons and two daughters, Colin R. being the second son and third child. He learned the book-binder's and lithographer's trades in Scotland, and, when eighteen years of age, came alone to the United States. He landed in jSTew York City, and worked at 104- Broadway, at the lithographer's trade, some five months, when he went to Baltimore, Md., and established the first lithographer's studio in that city; remained there two and a half years. In the summer of 1836 he located in Louisville, Ky., and established the first lithographer's business in that city. Mr. Milne discovered the first lithographic stone in Kentucky, about 1845, in a cliff near Frankfort. It is as good as the regular Bavarian stone, but it is not brought into market on account of labor being higher here than in Europe. For the first map of Kentucky, published at Louisville many years ago, Mr. Milne fur- nished some good work, done on this stone. He is one of the oldest litliograpliers in the country, and is the author and maker of Colton's Map of Kentucky. Mr. Milne sold the copyright to Mr. Colton. One of the first things he printed was a caricature of Jackson removing the deposit from tlie United States Bank. In 1S60 he came to Owensboro, and followed farming, and had charge of the Elrawood Cemetery until 1878, when he formed a jiartnership with II. W. Miller, in the undertaker's business. In Feb- ruary, 1882, he formed his present partnership with Harrison and Todd in tiic undertaker's business. In 1845 Mr. Milne married Mary Fulton, a native of Louisville, Ky., and a daughter of "William and ]\rary (Le\vi-;j Fulton, ilr. Fulton was the first baker to run a bread wagon in Louisville. ]\[r. and Mrs. Milne had a family (if •^e\en children, three living — Thomas C, married Miss Leib- I'l'icfl ; Alattie W.. and George M. Mr. Milne is a member of the f'^ourtli J^troet Presbyterian Churcli, South. He is also a Mason, mid a Knight Templar. Mrs. Milne died in 1863. She was a member of the Pj'esbyterian church. Her grandmother was a lUL'Cf of General AV^ayne, of Iievolutionary fame. Politically Mr. Milne is a Dciiiocrat. Charles B. Mitchell, born in JN'ew Albany, Floyd Co., Ind., Feb. .^, 1838, is a son of John and Sarah Ann (Smith) Mitchell, natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively. Nov. 1, 1849, t lie family came to <.)wensboro. Mrs. JMitchell died March 14, 1857. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOEO. 477 There was a family of eight children, six now living. Charles B. received his education in Salem, Ind., and the schools of Owens- boro. "When fourteen years old he learned the sign-painter's trade, working also at carriage painting. Aug. 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Kentucky Federal Cavalry, and served over three years, being mustered out Sei)t. T, 1865. He enlisted as private, and was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and Oct. 25, 1864, received the commission of Second Lieutenant. During a skirmish at Fair Gardens, East Tenn., he was wounded from a pistol shot, and disabled four months. He wao in several hard bat- tles and skirmishes, one of the hardest being at Philadelphia, East Tenn., Oct. 20, 1863, where the LTnion forces were surrounded by the enemy and were obliged to cut their way out, meeting with a severe loss. After the close of the war he went to Paris, 111. . where his father had moved, and remained till 1868, when he re- turned toOwensboro, where he worked at his trade, with a slight exception, till Feb. 1, 1880, since which he has served in the ca- pacity of Assistant Postmaster. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a prime mover in the temperance cause, having joined the Good Templars in 1855. He has been a member of the Methodist church since 1852. Soon after serving his apprenticeship, Mr. Mitchell spent something over a year in Keokuk, Iowa. Richard Moiutrch^ son of Thomas and Susan (Davis) Monarch, was born in Daviess County, Ky., June 2, 1S3S. His father was a native of Maryland, where he followed farming; after coming to Kentucky engaged in the distilling business. His mother was a native of Marion County, Ky. liichard was the lifth of ten chil- dren. He was educated in the schools of Daviess County. After he was twenty-one, he worked on a farm for himself till ISGi, when he went to Paducah and manufactured tobacco till 1867. He then came back to Daviess County, and handled leal tobacco one sea- son. In the summer of 1869, in partnersliip with his brother Daniel, he built the distillery on Fifth street, a mile wi'st of Owensboro, the firm name being I). Monarcl) tV' Bio. In the spring of 1875 Daniel died and liichard assumed control and cai - ried on the business alone till 1878, under the name of \l. Monarch. distiller. In 1^7'^, having a good customer in Galvo.-ton, Tex., be formed a partnership with him, unCounty, Kj'. His father, James H.; a native of Yirginia, was a Captain in the war of 1812, a merchant by occupation, and died in 1820, at Memphis, Tenn. He received three gun-shot wounds at the battle of the Thames, and fell within twenty-six or thirty-six feet of where Tecamseh fell. His mother, Elizabeth L., nee Doswell, also a na- tive of Virginia, came of an old English family long settled in that State. While the subject of this sketch was a boy the family moved to Hopkinsville, then to Alabama, Memphis (where his father died), aod then back to Washington County, By this time he was eij^t or ten years of age. Here and at St. Louis (Mo.) Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBOKO. 493 University he received a good education, and at the latter institu- tion graduated in medicine in 1844. After practicing medicine a short time at Calhoon, whither his mother had removed, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Anatomy in the St. Louis Uni- versity, which position he held for several years. During the summer months he practiced his profession at Calhoon. In 1849 he resigned the above position, and the next year he came to Owensboro, where he has since resided, practicing medicine, ex- cept 1857-'61, when he was Professor of Ar atomy in the Ken- tucky School of Medicine, at Louisville. In 1849 Dr. Stirman married Miss Hachel Wall, daughter of Banister and Sallie (Thomp- son) Wall, and their children are — Fannie C, wife of Mr. Athy, and residing in Sedalia, Mo.; Dr. Wilbur F., now in partnership with his father in the practice of medicine in Owensboro; M. G., attorney at law and School Commissioner of Daviess County; Jo- seph S., and Frederick Victor, now attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he will graduate next year. The Doctor's only brother, O. F. Stirman, became a lawyer of distinc- tion, and died at Louisville in 1871. Dr. Stirman has been a suc- cessful physician, accumulating considerable property, and has the finest residence in Owensboro. Joseph H. Stout was born in Lower Town Precinct, Ky. , May 19,1856. .His parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Lea) Stout, are now living on a farm in Sorghotown Precinct. They had a fam- ily of six sons and three daughters, Joseph being the third child and second son. He remained at home till nineteen, since which he has been at work for himself. In politics he is a Democrat. His grandfather, Simpson Stout, was one of the pioneers of Da- viess County, and was well known at an early day. J. H. Taylor was born in Danberry Township, Grafton Co., N. H., Sept. 4, 1836. Joseph E. and Louisa J. (Haman) Taylor were his parents. Both were natives of JSTew Hampshire. The early life of J. H. Taylor was passed among his native hills, until he had reached the age of twenty, when, in 1856, he removed to Elizabethtown, Ky., and there studied dentistry for two years under the tutelage of Dr. Baldwin. In 1858 Dr. Taylor went to Hancock Countj', Ky. , and in 1 864 came to Owensboro, where he at once engaged in the practice of dentistry in company with Dr. G. E. Stowers. After a three years' partnership with Dr. Stowers, he continued his practice alone until 1882, when he formed a partnership with a former student. Dr. W. B. Armendt. Digitized by Microsoft® 494 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. The present firm of Taylor & Armendt do an extensive practice, and are classed among the prominent dentists of this section of the State. Dec. 20, 1864, Dr. Taylor was married to Mary E. Stone, of Hawsville, Ky. The parents of Miss Stone were pioneers in Kentucky. Mr. Stone was prominent in the early history of Hancock County, was for about forty successive years Clerk of the Court, and was one of the first school-teachers o^ that section, and was well known over a large Iportion of tJie State. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of seven children, all living. Himself and wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church of Owensboro. Joshua C . Terrill was born Dec. 1, 1840, in Boone County, Ky. His father, John Terrill, was a native of Virginia, but came to Boone County, Ky., when a child, and lived there till ^ his death, in 1877. He married Nancy Watson, a native and still a resident of Bocne County. To them were born nine children, only four now living — Elizabeth, George W., W. H.,^and Joshua C. Park, Robert, James, John, and Simeon are deceased. Joshua C. lived in Boone County till the late war, when he enlisted in General Buckner's command, but was transferred to Morgan's command. He was taken prisoner by Hobson's cavalry in July, 1863, after Morgan had crossed the river into Ohio, and was taken to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, and from there to Camp Douglas, Chicago. On the night of Oct. 25, 1863, he made his escape, and came to Kentucky, but soon after went to Canada, and remained till the close of the war. He was married Nov. 3, 1865, to Mary F. (Osborne) Sharp, of Mason ville, Ky., she going to Canada to marry him. After the close of the war he returned to Boone County, Ky., and remained till 1869, when he came to Daviess County, and bought a farm five miles east of Owensboro. In the fall of 1875 he moved to Owensboro, still keeping his farm. He built his flouring mill in 1874, and moved into it in 1876. He has been a member of the Christian church since he was sixteen, and has been an Elder of the Owensboro church since 1860, being elected with two others when the church was built. Mr. and Mrs. Terrill are the parents of eight children, six living — Simeon L., Selina A., IdaM., Artelia H., Nannie E. and James K. Charles O. and John W. are deceased. James K. Tharp^ Mayor of Owensboro, Ky., was born in Jefferson County, Ky. , March 18, 1845. His father, Moses Tharp, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in liouisville at an early Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 495 date. He died in 1853. His mother, Eveline (Monin) Tharp, was of French descent, and was boin and reared in Chillicothe, Ohio. She died in 1860. After the death of his father, James K. earned his own living, and supported his mother till her death. In 1860 he came to Owensboro, and worked on a farm near the city live years. He then bought a team and worked in Owensboro. In 1873 he sold his team and bought "Stonewall's saloon." April 6, 1871:, he married Johanna Hollis, and then added a hotel to his saloon, which he ran six years. In 1^77 he was elected a member of the City Council, and served a year. In 1878 he ran for Mayor, but was defeated by John Thixton. In 1879 he was re-elected to the City Council, and in 1880 again ran for Mayor, defeating J. B. Scott, a strong candidate, by 178 votes; was re-elected in 1882, having 175 votes more than B. Baer. July 16, 1880, he'opened a wholesale and retail grocery and liquor store on Main street. May 18, 1880, his wife died, leaving one son — Clarence Gilmore, born Oct. 13, 1876. Charles O. Thixton, chief bookkeeper for Thixton & Slaughter, wholesale liquor dealers, born in Daviess County, Ky., July 22, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary E. (Murphy) Thixton. His mother died in October, 1876. Charles G. is the eldest of eleven children. When six years of age he moved with his parents into Owensboro. He attended the private and public schools of Owens- boro until 1872, when he entered St. Mary's College, near Lebanon, Marion Cq,, liy., where he graduated in 1874. He then returned to Owensboro and engaged in the grocery business until 1881, when he accepted his present position. Mr. Thixton married Nel- lie Elder, in Owensboro, Jan. 25, 1881. She was born in Owens- boro, and is a daughter of Lafayette and Ellen Elder. Mr. and Mrs. Thixton are both members of the St. Stevens' Catholic Church. They have one son— Norbert C, born Nov. 2, 1881. Mr. Thixton is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, Owens- boro Branch, No. 13. In politics he is a Democrat. John Thixton, son of John and Jane (Kell) Thixton, was born in Jefferson County, Ky., March 17, 1834. His father was a na- tive of Maryland, and came to Kentucky when a boy. He was a resident of Jefferson County fifty years. In 1849 he moved to Daviess County and resided here till his death, March 13, 1852, aged sixty-two. His wife was a native of Jefferson County, and died in August, 1849. They reared a family of fi\e sons and one daughter, four sons now living. After his fatlier s death Mr. Digitized by Microsoft® 496 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Thixton attended school till he was twenty, and then traveled five or six months selling tombstones. From August, 1854, to the end of the year he taught school. Jan. 15, 1855, he married Mary E., daughter of Daniel Murphy, and went to farming. In 1865 he sold his farm and moved to Owensboro and engaged in the gro- cery and liquor business. In January, 1881, he sold out his grocery to give his whole attention to the liquor business. Sept. 4, 1876, Mrs. Thixton died, leaving seven children, three sons and twa daughters now living. April 27, 1882, Mr. Thixton married Fan- nie Dickinson, a native of Louisville. Mr. Thixton has served either on the School Board or City Council ten years. In 1878 he was elected Mayor of the city, serving one term. George Napier Thomson was born in Montrose, Scotland, Feb. 14, 1848. He was educated in Scotland, and came to Eichmond, Va., in 1873, where he engaged in the tobacco business for five years. In 1879 he moved to Owensboro, Ky., where he has been extensively engaged in the same business. He was married in tlie fall of 1878 to Jerminah Dickson, a native of Scotland. They have two children, a son and daughter. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Owensboro. Beverly H. Todd, of the firm of Harrison, Milne & Todd, un- dertakers, Owensboro. was born in Daviess County, May 24, 1853, and is a son of David F. and Jane H. (Hicks) Todd, natives of Kentucky. They had a family of six sons and one daughter, B. H. being their second son and child. He remained on his father's farm in Lower Town Precinct until twelve years of age, when his father moved into Owensboro, and retired from farming. He held the office of County Commissioner for a number of years. He died in 1878. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. South. His wife is still living, with her son B. H. Todd. B. H. attended school in Owensboro until sixteen years of age, when he began to- clerk in the hardware business, and in 1878 formed his present partnership with Mr. Harrison in the undertaker's business. Sept. 80, 1873, he married Mary Moorman, a native of Owensboro, and a daughter of R. G. Moorman. He was a dry-goods and tobacco merchant in Owensboro. Mr. and Mrs. Todd are members of the Fourth Street Presbyterian Church, South. In politics he is a Democrat. Alexander C. Tompkins was born in Charlottesville, Va., on the 28th day of February, 1840. Mi*. Tompkins sprang from that hardy, vigorous, Scotch-Irish race and has inherited many of tlie: Digitized by Microsoft® 0WEN3B0R0. 497 characteristics of his ancestry, being strono^ physically and men- tally. The Tompkinses for many generations have lived in Virginia. Alexander's father was William W. Tompkins, and his grandfather, Dr. John Tompkins, and further back in the line of ancestors was his great-uncle, Daniel D. Tompkins, who was chosen to fill the ex- alted station of Vice-President of the United States. Many of Mr. Tompkins' people were preachers in the Christian church and he was named in honor of the celebrated Alexander Campbell, the founder of that churcli. Mr. Tompkins' mother was Frances Sam- nalla Pendleton, a daughter of ITcnry Pendleton, a Virginian. Our subject left the State of his nativity in 1858, going to Hen- derson County. He remained here, however, but about three years, when at the breaking out of tiie war he returned to Virginia, and in the fall of that year enlisted in the Twenty -seventh Virginia Infantry as a private. After the battle of Antietam he was transferred to the Second Virginia Cavalry, Company K, and was assigned to General Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade, in which he served until the surrender of Lee's army which closed the war. He came out of the army with the rank of Second Lieutenant. After peace was restored between the North and the South, Mr. Tompkins again went to Henderson County and engaged in farming, and in the fall of 1865 removed to Daviess County. He here engaged in mining and farming on the Bonharbor farm; in which he is still in- terested. In 1873 he began to operate in tobacco, and now (1883) is doing one of the heaviest tobacco trades in Daviess County, handling as high as 1,000,000 pounds in a single year. In addi- tion to his agricultural interests and his large tobacco business, Mr. Tompkins, in 1880, became a member of the Owensboro Dis- tilling Company, and is now actively engaged in the distilling business. June 10, 1868, Mr. Tompkins was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Venable, at Owensiwro. She is a daughter of Samuel and Virginia Venable. Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have had two children, one living, a son, born in July, 1873. Himself and wife are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mr. Tompkins was elected member of the Common Council of the city of Owensboro, in April, 1882. Captain John H. Triphtt, Captain of the H. M. Sweetser, packet between Owensboro and Rockport, Ind., is a native of Kentucky, and was born near Owensboro, May 18, 1838. At the early age of sixteen he began as third clerk on board a packet between Louis- ville and Henderson; remained on this line until 1860, when he ran 32 Digitized by Microsoft® 498 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. on Eed Eiver until February, 1861. He then returned home, and he and Jack Thompson raised tlie Dixie Guards, which became Company G, Color Company of the First Kentucky Infantry Vol- unteers. Captain Triplett was elected Captain of this company, and remained such until the disbandment, when he was transferred to the Tennessee army and was appointed Captain of a company and ordered back to Kentucky; was captured on the way, and spent fourteen months on Johnson's Island when he was paroled. After the close of the war he opened a coal yard for the Cairo City Coal Company. After six months he began as first clerk on the Jonas Powell and Tennessee, on the Tennessee River; was there one year, then went on the David "White, running between New Orleans and Louisville. Feb. 17, 1867, she was blown up at Columbia, Ark. In June, 1867, he was Captain of the Leonora, Steamer No. 2, Pioneer Packet, running between Evansville and Cincinnati, and had charge of her until October, 1867, when he took charge of the Tahlequah for the same line of packets and ran her between Cincinnati and Fort Smith, Ark., until 1868, when he took charge of Petrolia, No. 2, running "between Cannelton and Evansville. In October, 1869, he ran on the Charmer between Evansville and Cincinnati. In the spring of 1870 he took charge of the Palestine. In summer of 1871 he took charge of steamer Morning Star, in the Louis\ille and Henderson trade. April 15, 1872, he was married at Louisville to Lotta Gerding, a daughter of Geo. F. and Eliza (Lowe) Gerding. In July, 1872, Captain Trip- lett quit the river and bought an interest in the wharf boat at Owensboro and engaged in this until 1875, when he and h's brother, R. S. Triplett, bought the R. S. Triplett and ran on the Upper St. Francis River from Wittsbnrg to Luster Landing, Ark., seven months, when he brought her home and sold her. Owing to bad health and over-work he went to the mountains of Tennessee, and re- mained until 1880. He returned to Owensboro and was engaged in the commission business until July, 1882, when he bought an interest in the Letcher and put on the II. M. Sweetser in Novem- ber, 1882. which he still runs. Captain Triplett is a son of Judge George W. and Permellia A. (Head) Triplett, who had a family of eight children. Jolm II. was the third of four sons. He and wife have three children — Pamie, Robert S. and Lillie. Captain Trip- lett is a member of the K. of P., Owensboro Lodge, No. 19. In polities he is a Democrat. Digitized by Microsoft® OWENSBORO. 499 John H. Triplett, Jr., general ticket agent, and special agent for the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Ry., and all connections, was born in the city of Louisville, Nov. 14, 1861; son of Eobert S. and Louisa (Vest) Triplett, now residents of Owensboro. There was a family of four sons and one daughter, four sons living- George v., editor Saturday Post, of Owensboro; Eobert S., Jr., bookkeeper for the Southern Wheel and Handle Company, Owens- boro; John H., Jr., and Graham, day clerk of the upper wharf-boat. John H., Jr., subject of our sketch, removed with his parents to Owensboro soon after his birth. He attended the private schools of Owensboro until 1878, when he entered the Central University, Richmond, Ya., where he remained until 1879, then entered the Evansville (Ind.) Business College, where he graduated. He then returned to Owensboro, and worked as clerk for his father on the upper wharf-boat until March, 1882, when he was appointed special soliciting agent on the Lower Ohio River for the Louisville & Cin- cinnati Mail Line Company, and in November, 1882, received his present position. Politically he is a Democrat. James P. Troutman^ born in Bullitt County, Ky., June 9, 1835, is a son of Upton and Mary Ann (Hagan) Troutman, both natives of Kentucky. His mother died in Nelson County, and in 1869 his father came to Daviess County, where he resided till his death. There was a family of four children, two now living. James P. lived in Bullitt and Nelson counties till twenty-three years of age. In the fall of 1858 he came to Daviess County and settled nine miles south of Owensboro, on Panther Creek, and opened a black- smith's shop. In February, 1863, he came to Owensboro. In 1872 he formed a partnership with Peter Rarrick, and carried on a general repair shop, blacksmithing and the manufacturino- of wagons and plows. April 1, 1881, M. V. Monarch entered the firm as a partner, and the business was enlarged to its present dimensions. Mr. Troutman was married in 1859 to Mary E. McMur- try, a native of Washington County, Ky., and a daughter of Lewis McMurtry. She died in 1870, leaving five children, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are now living — Edgar, born Oct. 1, 1860; Lizzie, March 29, 1862; Annie, May 14, 1864; Louis, Dec. 19, 1^67; and Gertt-ude, April 14, 1870. Oct. 24, 1871, he mar- ried Mrs. Mary E. Childers, daughter of David Stone and widow of Samuel Childers. They have had two children — Eflie, born Oct. 27, 1872, and Johnnie, July 15, 1877, now deceased. Mr. Trout- man is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Digitized by Microsoft® 600 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. W. B. Tyler, deceased, was born in Prince William County, Va., Jan. 1, 1819. His father died when lie was three years old. His mother then moved to Meade County, Ky., where lie lived until 1847, when he came to Daviess County, Ky., and engaged in the mercantile trade, continuing in that business until 1860. He then becameCashier of the Deposit Bank, continuing as such until his death, which occurred Nov. 23, 1877. He obtained an educa- tion in what was called in that day " Old field schools," and fin- ished his education witli old " Bob Smith " (as he was called), in Jeflterson County, Ky., not many miles from Louisville. He mar- ried Miss Eliza N. Hawes, a native of Hancock County, and the daughter of Hon. Edwin Hawes, Senator of Daviess County, in 1850. Mr. Tyler was a man of the strictest honor and integrity, firm in his business character, but a mild and liberal man in his intercourse with his fellow men; ever ready to help anyone in trouble, and fully alive in matters relative to the prosperity of the community in which he resided. For many years previous to his death he was an active and consistent member of the Baptist church, and his death caused a void in the church and in our community very difiicult to be filled. He and wife had a family of five sons and six daughters, four f=ons and five daugliters living — Edwin H., now a practicing physician at San Antonio, Texas; Carrie A., wife of S. L. McAdams, a tobacco merchant at Hawes ville, Ky. ; Charles K., a graduate of West Point and a Lieutenant in the U. S. army; Heartly M., wife of Edwin H. Clarke, tobacco merchant of Owens- boro; Cecelia C, residing at home with her mother; Gustavus B. , tobacco merchant of Owensboro; Clara H., Margaret H., and George T. reside at home with their mother, on the corfier of Fourth and St. Ann streets, Owensboro. J. Joseph P. Ellis, third son and fourth child of William and Kebecca Ellis, was born Oct. IS, l.>ll. His ])arcnts were born and reared in the city of RichnK^nd and came to Kentucky early in the present century, buying a farm in Shelby County, near the old Dover Church. They had a family of six sons and six daugh- Digitized by Microsoft® 532 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTT. ters. Old Dover Church was named by his parents and grandpar- ents in honor of the church in Virginia from which they came. Joseph P. 's early education was obtained in the old log school- house. He attended school seven years, twelve months in the year, beginning when seven years old, S. IT. Maddux, an old Virginia Baptist, being the teaclier. When in his fifteenth year, May 31, 1826, he lost his mother. Before her death she called him to her and made liim promise to seek religion and meet her in heaven, but it was not till the 16th of July f )llowing that he finally yielded and felt that his sins were f(ji-given. At tliat time he was very desirous of uniting with tlie church, but not carrying out his desire, he grew weaker in the faith and finally abandoned the idea till he should grow older. His father married Miss Elizabeth Miller, a woman in every way adapted to perform the duties she had assumed, and in the fall of 1829, having sold his farm in Shelby County, removed to Daviess County, and settled in the dense forest, unbroken save by the Litchfield road from Owens- boro, which was opened the spring before. They arrived here on Joseph's birthday. All hands went to work and in a short time had the ground ready to erect a building, and by calling help from the nearest neighbors soon after had a house to shelter them. The next season they managed to raise enough to live on, and by dint of hard work improved the land till they were able to live in com- fort, Josepli remaining at home till he was twenty-two years of age. In the fall of 1833 he and a sister returned to their na- tive county on a visit and he made arrangements to stay a year and attend to the business of an old acquaintance. In the summer of 1834 he went to work for Daniel Con ley in the neighbor- hood of Bufl'alo Lick church, of which his employer was a mem- ber. In July the church at Bethel held a series of meetings for several days. His employer attended them and on his return would urge hitn to go, but he would put him off, telling him the wheat needed his attention. One Saturday about one o'clock his em- ployer came riding up and found that the wheat was all in the shock, and the hands lying idle under the shade trees. He ordered them to get ready to go to church with him at four o'clock. When on his way for his horse the questions, Where are you going? and What are you going for? were constantly suggested to Joseph's mind till he was distressed, and he was so impressed with the ne- cessity of prayer tliat he remembered nothing till he found him- self riding up to the house and rejoicing aloud. The family rushed Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PRECINCT. 533 out to see what was the matter. He liad no difficulty in telling them as Le had had the same happy feelings eight years before. He told the Deacon all his previous experience, begiiming with his promise to his dying mother, and that night presented himself for membership in the church and was baptized the next day. In 1840 he was licensed to preach. In 1842 he became the pastor of Bell's Run church, and not long after was called to the pastorate of Mt. Pleasant church, Ohio County, receiving a salary of about $20 per year. In 1844 he accepted the pastorate of Panther Creek church, remaining with them till 1857 and receiving an average salary of $18 a year. During this time the membeiship increased from 90 to 200. In 1873 heretui-ned to this church and served them five years, with a salary of $100 a year. In 1849 he took charge of Bethabra church and was their pastor eight years, receiv- ing $36 a year. At this time he was appointed by the Daviess County Mission Board, missionary in her field. From 1873-'75 he was pastor of the Bethabra church, retaining a salary of $240 a year. From 1867-'70 he was pastor of Zion Church. In 1854 he organized the church at Whitesville and was its pastor several years. During his pastorate of furty-flve years he has baptized hundreds, and has seen new churches planted and grow where a few years ago it was a wilderness. Sixteen new churches have been built in the field of his labors and he has laid hands on six- teen young ministers. He was married in September, 1835, to Jane Taylor, of Ohio County. They have had two sons and five daughters. All grew to maturity, and became members of the Baptist church, Mr. Ellis baptizing his wife and the most of his children. His eldest daughter, Sallie M., died June 6, 1870. The rest of his children are married and settled near the oldhomestead. Mr. Ellis has seventeen grandchildren, and two gi-eat-grandchil- dren. Luther C. Ellis was born in Ohio County, Feb. 10, 1838, and is the second son of the Eev. J. P. Ellis. He attended the neighborliood schools during three months in a year, for a few years, and acquired a fair education, considering the advantages offered him. When he was twenty years old he went to Illinois, and remained ten months. He then returned to his home and stayed with his father till the war. In July, "1862, he enlisted in the Tenth Ken- tacky Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Johnson, mustered into ser- vice at Slaughterville, Webster Co., Ky., and attached to General Morgan's command. The principal engagements he was in were Digitized by Microsoft® 534 HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Madisonville, Ky.; Uniontown, where 387 Union prisoners were taken; McMinnville, Tenn. ; Snow's Hill, Tenn.; Liberty, Tenr.; Milton Tenn., together with several skirmishes. At Ash- bysburg, Ky., in 1862, he^ being in the town, was taken prisoner by a body of soldiers entering the town, and taken to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, where he was confine J tliree months, when he was exchanged. He then rejoined his regiment and remained with it about eight months. While confined at Johnson's Island he was taken sick, and not recovering, after his exchange, he obtained an unlimited furlough and returned to Kentucky. He went to Hancock County, near Hawesville, where he remained till 1869. He was married Jan. 10, 1865, to Amanda Estes, who was born in Hancock County, daughter of John M. Estus. .In the fall of the same year he was married Mr. Estes purchased a farm in Hancock Connty, where he lived till 1869. His wife died Sept. 15, 1869, leaving one son, John P. Ellis. After the death of his wife, Mr. Ellis sold his farm and came to Daviess and purchased his present place of 150 acres, adjoining that of his father's. He was married again, Feb. 1, 1871, to Sarah E. Stinnett, daughter of Joel Stinn tt, of Daviess County. They have two diildren — Joel R,, born May 16, 1873, and Jessie B., born Dec. 15, 1879. In 1878. Mr. Ellis united with the Baptist church, at Whitesville, his wife also being a member of the same church. Thomas C. Floyd, born in Marion County, Ky., May 8, 1849, was a son of Zachariah D. and Mary J. (Gregory) Floyd, of the same county. They moved to Daviess County in October, 1855, and located in Whitesville. His father was a mechanic by trade, and died Sept. 6, 1879. Mrs. Floyd is still living, in her fifty-third year. They had two sons — Thos. C. and Hardin L. Thos. Floyd came to Whitesville with his parents when he was six years old; was educated here, and began in business for himself March 1, 1877. He opened a confectionery store on the north side of Main street, and was appointed Postmaster of Whitesville at the same time. In the fall of 1880 he opened a general store, where he is now doing business. When he first started in business he had comparatively nothing, and has met with a decided success. He has always been attentive to business and has not lost a day since^he began. He was married "Sept. 19, 1878, to Miss Rosa Mattingly, daughter of J. L. Mattingly, of Whitesville. They have two children — Ada and Virgie. Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PEECINOT. 535 George W. Hagan, son of Thomas C. and Tabitha (Wedding) Hagan, was born Oct. 14, 1828, in Nelson County, Ky , and in the spring of 1829 his parents came to Daviess County and settled near Whitesville. His father was a Catholic and took ati active part in tlie establishment of the hrst church in this precinct. He died in March, 1876, his wife preceding him in October, 1860. They had a family of nine children. George W. was married in February, 1851, to Lucinda Van Russelberg, a native of Daviess County, born Nov. 9, 18SI, a daughter of P. J. Van Russelbsrg After his marria<;e he bought a farm in t Hiio County where he lived live years, and then sold it and bought the one where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Hagan have had fourteen children, eleven now living, seven sons and four daughters. Mr. Hagan is a member of the Catholic church. Caleh Hale, M. Z>., born May 2, 1835, in Ohio County, Ky.; son of Caleb and Salhe (Huff) Hale. His father was born in Virginia, and settled in Ohio County, Ky., in 1806, where he was married, his wife being a daughter of Charles Huff, native of Mercer County, Ky. Both parents died in Ohio County, the father at the age of seventy six years, and the mother at the age of sixty-seven years. They reared a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daugh- ters, of whom two of the daughters afterward died ; among the sons two of them have become praicticiog physicians— Josiah Hale, of Owensboro, and Caleb Hale, of Whitesville. Dr. Hale, the sub- ject of this sketch, was reared in Ohio County. His education was commenced in the common district sehoola, but completed at Hart- ford, Ohio Countj', and Calhoon, McLean County, principally at the latter place. He began his medical studies in his sixteenth year, with his brother Josiah, who was then pr^ctrqing m Ohio County. He took liis first course of medical lec^nrea at the Louis- ville [Jniversity, in 1852, and graduated from this institution dur- ing the sesfcion of 1857-'8. He first began the practice of medicine in his twentieth year, at Fordsville, Ohio Co., Ky., before graduat- ing. In 1859 he moved to Yelvington, Daviess County; remained there, however, only a short time, when he moved to Calhoon, Mc- Lean County, where he stayed one year. In 1861 he came to Whites- vi le, where he has been engaged in the active practice of medicine ever since. When he was in his seventeenth year he united with the Ba4)tist church. In 1856 he became identified with the Ma- sonic order, the Fordsville Lodge, Ohio County. He has been suc- cessful in his professional duties, and has had as large a practice as Digitized by Microsoft® 536 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. any man of his age in the county. He was married in 1856 to Sarah F. May, daughter of Isaac May, of Ohio County. They have had five children — Laura, deceased, wife of Rev. R. S. Fleming, who died leaving two little sons; Sue, Mattie, Sallie, and Yirdie, who was drowned at the age of two years. Meredith W. Hamilton, born Dec. 22, 1838, in Ohio County, Ky., is a son of Samuel and Louisa (Crow) Hamilton. He is the third of a family of nine children, six of whom are now living. His father died ill 1852, and his mother is living with a daughter in Ohio County. His educational advantages were limited, being confined to the country schools. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-third Kentucky Infantry. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Nashville, Fort Anderson, and numer- ous skirmishes, and was mustered out in August, 1864. In 1866 he married Dielan, daughter of George Stephens, and went to farm- ing on the old homestead, remaining there till 1874-, when he sold his farm, and bought one of ninetj^-nine acres in Daviess County. In February, 1883, he sold this place, and bought the farm where he now resides, ofI112 acres, lying just outside of Whitesville. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have one daughter — Mary Margaret. They are members of the Catholic church. Charles L. Uaynes, born March 13, 1826, in Ohio County, Ky. , is a son of John B. and Rhoda (Huff) Haynes. He was the youngest of a family of thirteen children, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood. His mother died in 1845, and his father during the war. Charles L. lived at home till after the death of his mother, and then went to Grayson County and lived with a brother two years. In 1849 he married Arena McBroom, a native of Daviess County, and settled on a farm in Ohio County on the borders of Daviess. In 1874 he came to Whitesville. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes have had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, one of whom is deceased. Henry It. Head, born in Knottsville Precinct, Daviess Co., Ky., Aug. 31, 1833, is a son of William and Hannah (Adams) Head, natives of Nelson County, Ky. His father died in 1838, and his mother in 1858. They had a family of twelve children, ten now living. Henry was but five years old when his father died, and when sixteen he began life for himself by working on a farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, General Morgan's command. He was captured in 1862 at Hawesville, Ky., and taken to Jeffer- Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PEECINOT. 537 soiiville penitentiary, where he remained about a week, and was taken to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, and kept two weeks. He was then taken to Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay, and confined three months, and was then exchanged. He went to Cairo, and from there to Vicksbiirg, where he joined his command. From there lie went to Mobile, then to Nashville, Tenn.; was in the engagement thei'e. He was taken bick with tlie measles, and off duty two_ months. His next t ngagement was at McMinnville, Tenn.; tlience to Snow Hill, Bowling Green, Ky., and Bardstown; was with Morgan in his raids in this part of the country. In 1863, when Morgan crossed the Ohio, Mr. Head went back and joined Bragg's forces, and after a month went to Louisville and surren- dered to the Federal forces, and was released by taking the oath of allegiance, and giving a bond of $3,000. In 1867 he was married to Elizabeth Rhodes. They have one son — James E., born March 4, 1868. In 1868 he bought his farm near Whites- ville, where he still resides. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is a member of the Whitesville church. James F . Hite, son of J. R. and Elizabeth (Evans) Hite, was born Dec. 17, 1843, in Oldham County, Ky. His parents were both natives of Jefferson" County. His father was born Jan. 31, 1824, and his mother April 25, 1825. They were married March 27, 1845, and removed to Oldham County, where they lived three years, and then came to Daviess County, landing in Owensboro Nov. 8, 1848. They located about seventeen miles east of Owens- boro, where Mr. Hite bought a farm of 280 acres. Mrs. Hite died April 3, 1856, leaving three children, two sons and a daugh- ter. In 1858 Mr. Hite married Dora, daughter of John Cabo They had four children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Hite resided on his farm, with the exception of three years, till after the death of his second wife, in 1875. He now resides with his son, James F. When fourteen years of age James F. Hite left home to earn his own livelihood, and worked for his uncle, B. S. Allen, till 1863, when he enlisted in the Confederate army, in General Forrest's command. He was in actual service only two or three months, as he was captured by the Union forces in Butler County, Ky., the year he enlisted. He was in prison about four months, and was released by giving bonds for $5,000, and paying $1,000, his grandfather, Francis Evans, paying the ransom money. He was released on condition that he remain North till the close of the war, which he did , returning to Kentucky by permission of Digitized by Microsoft® 538 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Governor Palmer, after Lee's surrender. lie went to his uncle's, B. S. Allen's, remaining there till 1866, when he commenced going to school, and four years later commenced to teach a country school in Hancock County. In the latter part of 1876 he com- menced business life, and, with W". Ford, opened a dry-goods and general store at Pleasant Ridge. AYhile teaching school Mr. Ilite spent leisure time in the study of pharmacy witli Dr. J. W. Ellis, of Masonville, and at the end of a year in the dry-gonds business he opened a drug store in Pleasant Ridge. In September, 1878, he bought the drug store of Mullen iSi Ilayiies, of Wliitesvil'e, and is now one of the enterprising and success I'ul business men of the place. Mr. Ilite is a member of the Baptist church, and Superintendent of tlie Whitesxille Simday-school. May 21, 1872, he married Sarah Mobberly, a native of Daviess County, and a daughter of Peyton Mobberlj'. They have four children, two 8., was born Jan. 18, 1826, in Shelby County, Ky. His father, Samuel Knox, M. D., was born in Ire- Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PBECINCT. 64:1 land, Dec. 6, 1799, and came to America in 1820. He was married March 10, 1320, just before starting for America, to Elizabeth Rogers, who was born July 28, 1794. He graduated from the medical college of London, England, in 1820, and was appointed to the position of surgeon in the British navy, resigning to come to the United States. He settled in Shelby County, Ky., where he practiced medicine till his death, March 6, 1855. His wife died July 20, 1859. William E. is the fourth of a family of ten children. He has a twin brother living in Lewisport. When twelve years of age he went to Shelbyville to a tend school, and when nineteen commenced the study of medicine with his father. In 1847 he entered the Louisville Medical College, graduating in 1849. He commenced the practice of his profession in Chaplin, Ky., remaining there about a year and a half. In 1850 he went to Kansas City, Mo., and in the spring of 1851 came to Daviess County and settled in Whitesville where he now has a good prac- tice. His brother, James B., came here with him and remained three years, when he went to Philadelphia to attend medical lect- ures. At that time Dr. Haynes, of Masonville, was the only phy- sician in this part of the county. Dr. Knox was married Jan. 4, 1855, to Sallie A. Milton, daughter of James Milton, who was born opposite Dr. Knox's residence, April 15, 1839. They have six children, four sons and two daughters. His eldest son, James S., is a physiciaix, having graduated from the Louisville Medical College in the spring of 1882. A brother, Marcus L., was a sur- geon on the steamship Pemgrem, U. S. navy, during the late war and lost his hearing in the service. He died at the residence of Dr. Knox, May 20, 1873. Oeo. W. Litsey was born June 29, 1839, in Grayson County, Ky. His father was Davis Litsey, a native of the same county. His grandfather, John Litsey, was from Washington County, Ky. , and . settled in Grayson County at an early date, and in 1851 moved to Washington County, Iowa, where he lived till his death. Davis Litsey was a farmer in Grayson County. He married Eebecca Dav, a native of Grayson County, daughter of Joseph Day. They had six children— James, George W., John T., Susan, Squire (deceased) and MoUie. Mrs. Litsey is still living in Hart County, Ky., with her daughter Mollie, wife of Henry Wheeler. Mr. Lit- sey died in the winter of 1863. Geo. W. Litsey was reared in Grayson County, and lived with his father till 1856. He learned the blacksipith's trade, and in 1856 went to Bewleyville, Breckin- Digitized by Microsoft® 542 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. ridge Co., Ky., where he worked at his trade nearly two years. In October, 1858, he came to Daviess County and settled in Whites- ville, and in 1863 bought the property where he now lives. In 1859 he began work at his trade with Birkhead & Ramsey. A short time after he bought Mr. Ramsey's interest and shortly after bought Mr. Birkhead's interest in the shop and carried on the business himself till 1877. In January of this year Mr. Litsey was stricken with a paralytic stroke which unfitted him for basi- ness, and the greater part of the time since he has been nearly helpless. Up to the time of his misfortune he has been a hard- working man. In 1877 he became a member of the Baptist church, and since then has been a strict adherent to his religions principles. He was married in July, 1863, to* Luticia Gist, daughter of John A. Gist. Mrs Litsey was born in Daviess County, Dec. 20, 1843. Seven children have been born to them — Richard L., born April 25, 186i, died Dec. 23, 1864; Junius, born Dec. 9, 1865; Alice, born Feb. 20, 1867, died May 20, 1867; Ros- allie, born April 20, 1868; Ollie, born April 9, 1871, died Jan. 24, 1872; Ettie Delia, born Oct. 9, 1872; Fred Irwin, bom Sept. 15, 18T4. Thomas H. Lloyd was born Sept. 1, 1827, in Rockingham County, N. C. His father, William Lloyd, was also born in the same county, in August, 1792. He was married in North Carolina, Sept. 4, 1818, to Mary King, who was born in Rockingham County, May 24, 1798. In 1832 he came to Kentucky, and settled in Breckin- ridge County, on a farm, where he resided aboat two years, when he moved across the line into Grayson County, where he died, near the falls of Rough Creek, May 10, 1853. His widow is still living in Breckinridge with one of her married daughters. They reared a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters to be grown, of whom all are living with the exception of the oldest and the fifth child. Thomas H. Lloyd was about five years old when his father moved to Kentucky. He received a common education of what could be had at that time, and lived with his father till he was twenty -two years of age. He was married in Ohio County, Dec. 23, 1851, to Missouri C. Roach, a second cousin of his, who was born in North Carolina, a daughter of James Roach, who settled from Rockingham County, N . C, in Ohio County, Ky. After his marriage he lived in Grayson County, where he purchased his father's old farm, and lived on it till 1864. His wife died Jane 8, 1862, leaving five children — James W., Thomas H., Johq H.,Mary Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PEEOINCT. 648 E. and Theophilus (deceased). Mr. Lloyd was married again in Litchfield, Grayson County, Ang. i, 186i, to Fannie V. Kogers, wlio was born in Nelson County, March 24, 1843, a daughter of Mathew Eogers. After this marriage Mr. Lloyd sold his farm in Grayson County, and moved to Ohio County, near the Daviess County line, and bought a farm there, where he resided about fifteen years, after which he sold and bought near Fordsville, Ohio County, and lived there about four years. In November, 1882, he sold again, and purchased in Daviess County, where he now lives, moving onto the place in December, 1882. He has 167 acres of land, situated on the Litchfield road, two miles east of Whitesville, in one of the best portions of Daviess County. Mr. Lloyd united with the Pleas- ant Grove Baptist church, Jan. 30, 1860, and when he moved near the edge of Daviess County, transferred his memberBhip to the Zion Baptist Church in Ohio County. He has been connected with this church over eighteen years, and had been a Deacon of the chnrch during this time, having been regularly ordained as such a short time after he became a member. He has also been Treasurer of the church for the same length of time. Seven of his children are members of the same church, also his wife, who has been con- nected with it since February, 1854. Mr. and Mr». Lloyd have four children — Tarlton L., Cecil E., Sarah C. and Charles Robert, all of whom were born in Ohio County. Mr. Lloyd has been con- nected with the Masonic fraternity since he was twenty-two years of age. James H. May, born July 13, 1822, in Jefierson County, Ky., is a son of Wales and Sarah (Huraphress) May, his father a native of Connecticut and his mother of Loudoun County, Ya. His grandfather, John Humphress, was one of the first settlers of Jeffer- son County, going there as early as 1781 or 1782. His father died near Louisville, March 29, 1834, and his mother about 1853. There was a family of eight children, five living to maturity, and three now living. James H. is the eldest now living. He was reared in Jefferson County, living there till 1848. He worked at the blacksmith's trade fourteen months with Lawrence Hickman, and then went to Louisville and worked three years and a half with Hays & Cooper. He afterward worked for different parties, till June 20, 1853, when he came to Daviess County. In December, 1853, he went to Clarksville, Tenn., and worked for Thomas &, Bailey, till Jan. 20, 1855. He then went to Nashville, Tenn., in- tending to go into business, but the night of the second day he wae Digitized by Microsoft® 6^ HISTORY OF DAYIXSS COTTNTT. there was taken with a congestive chill and was unable to work for several weeks. On regaining his health, he went again to TiOuisville; from there to Shelby Couuty, and thence, after a year, to Bullitt County. In 1863 he came to Daviess County, opening a shop at Whitesville. He was married Nov. 30, 1848, to Ellen Jane Goldsmith, daughter of Owen Goldsmith, of Bullitt County. They have had eight cliildren, five now living — James T., Charles H., Ida E., Lucy W., Lnlie A. Lloyd K. died at the age of twenty-three years, and two died in infancy. James TF. McCarty, M. D., was born July 81, 1848, in Ohio County, Ky. His father was Justin McCarty, a native of Marion County, and his mother was Rachel W. (Haynes) McCarty, a native of Ohio County, Ky. They reared ten of eleven children, nine of them now living. James W. McCarty is the oldest of his father's family. He was reared in Ohio County, near the Daviess County line, where his fataer lived at that time. He was educated mostly at Whitesville, Daviess County, and at Horse Cave, Hart Co., Ky. He began his medical studies with his uncle, Milburn Mc- Carty, of Woodford County, 111., with whom he remained four or five months. He attended his first course of lectures at the Louis- ville Medical College during the sessions of 187i-'5, and again in 1875-6, and graduated from this institution in the spring of 1876. During this time, and previous, he paid his own way by working on a farm. summers and teaching school during the winter months. In 1875 he practiced medicine in Edwards County, 111., near West Salem, during the spring and summer months. In that man- ner he accumulated means to carry him through the medical col- lege. On the 28th day of March, 1876, he settled in Whitesville, Daviess County, and began the practice of medicine, where lie has been located ever since. From the time the Doctor started, he has met with good success, better in fact than he anticipated when he began, and his practice has steadily increased from year to year. Being reared in this community, and known by the people, he has met with a just reward as the result of his labors. In 1862 he be- came a member of the Baptist church, and has lived in accordance with his religious principles. He was married on the 13th of April, 1876, to S. Mary McElroy, daughter of C. S. and F. M. Mc- Elroy. Mrs. McCarty was born in Washington County, Ky., on the 6th of January, 1855. When she was nine years old her parents moved to this county. She is also a member of the Bap- tist church. They have one son — Arnold B., born May 28, 1877. Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PEECmCT. 545 Justin McCarty, born in Washington County, Ky., March 2, 1822, is a son of Milburn and Catharine (Kinnett) McCarty, na- tives of the same county, his father born in April, 1798, and his mother March 13, 1798. In March, 1845, his father sold his farm in Washington County, and bought 700 acres in Ohio County, five miles from Whitesville. He added to this till at the time of his death. May, 1854, he had 900 acres. His wife is still living, mak- ing her home with her children and grandchildren. They reared a family of nine children — Charles, Justin, Samuel (deceased), Will- iam W., Milburn, Susan (Mrs. Jesse Hayden, now deceased), Mary A. (Mrs. J. L. Brown), John, Drusiila C. (Mrs. G. W. Kelly). When Justin was eight years of age his father's health failed, and the care of the farm (then unpaid for) and the liquidation of the debt fell upon the children. He remained at home till twenty-three years of age, when, Aug. 5, 1845, he married Rachel W. Haynes, anative of Ohio County, born June 2, 1828, and a daughter of Jo- siah flaynes. After his marriage Mr. Haynes bought 100 acres adjoining his father's, where he lived five years. In 1850 he sold his farm and bought one of 166 acres in Ohio County, on the Da- viess County line. In 1862 he added to this, and now has 170 acres in the homestead, and 210 acres in another tract lying in Ohio and Daviess counties. During the war he met with quite a loss in ne- groes. Mr. and Mrs. McCarty have nine children — James W., Samuel C, C. Hammond, John T. (residingin Texas), Susie E. (wife of Dr. S. H. Weatherford, of Texas), N. Bell, Bettie S., Justin L., and C. Webb. They have lost two children — Fannie C. , who died Deo. 6, 1869, aged sixteen years, and Josiah M. , died Dec. 14, 1867, aged five days. Politically Mr. McCarty was a Whig, but since the outbreaking of the war he has been a Democrat. The family are members of the Baptist church. Mr. McCarty's grandfathers, Justin McCarty and Charles Kinnett, were both in the Revolutionary war. His family is of Scotch and Irish descent. William L. Miller, born in Daviess County, Ky., Sept. 15, 1845, is a son of William E. and Harriet (Hansford) Miller. His father was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1823, and came to Da- viess County with his parents in 1826. There was a familj- of eleven children, three now living — William L., Lucinda and S. R. Mrs. Miller died in 1877 and Mr. Miller in 1878. William L. lived on a farm till about fourteen years of age, when his parents moved to Whitesville. He was educated in the village schools, and in 1864 commenced to learn the carpenter and wagon maker's trade. After 35 Digitized by Microsoft® 54:6 HISTOK'X OF DAVIESS COUNTY. the death of his father he succeeded him in business and is now recognized as the leading undertaker in this part of the county. May 3, 1875, he married Anna, daughter of J. T. Bartlett. They have two children — Pearl, born May IS, 1876, and Earl, born July 26, 1879. Mr. Miller is a member of the Baptist church. James Milton was born Aug. 9, 1809, in Nelson County, Ky. ITis father, Richard Milton, was a native of Virginia, born in Jan- uary, 1773, and came to Kentucky when fifteen years of age, set- tling in Nelson County, where he married Sallie Williams, a native of Maryland. The greater part of hie life was spent in Nel- son County, but a few days before his death he moved to Spencer County, where he died July 3, 1850, his wife having died aboot three years before. They reared a family of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters. James, the sixth child, was reared in Nelson County and lived with his father till twenty-five years of age. He received but a limited education, devoting most of liis early life to the duties of the farm. March 8, 1835, he married Sallie E., daughter of William Stone, of Nelson County, and the following April moved to Daviess County and settled in Whites- ville Precinct, on a farm of 397 acres, — his son-in-law, Dr. W, R. Knox, now residing on part of it, — at that time being mostly in the woods and having few improvements. In 1850 he moved to his- present residence. His wife died March 6, 1853. They had four children, only two now living — Richard, and Sallie, now Mrs. W. R. Knox. Nov. 22, 1860, Mr. Milton married Mary J., widow of J. L. Bartlett, and daughter of A. J. Harlan. They have had seven children, six living — James William, John T., Robert Lee, Bushrod J., Ada A. and Ida L. (twins). Mary Alice died at the age of nine years and six months. Politically Mr. Milton was a Whig, but in later years has affiliated with the Democratic party. In the spring of 1867 he was elected Magistrate of this precinct and served two terms. He is a member of the Christian church, being the only surviving member who signed the Constitution in 1835. John Wesley Moseley (deceased), son of Elijah and Polly (Barnes) Moseley, was bom in Ohio County, Ky., May 9, 1813. He was the third of a family of live children— Robert, Sallie, John Wes- ley, Elizabeth and Elijah. His father died when he was eio-ht years old. His educational advantages were necessarily limited being confined to the country schools. He was married April 6 1834, to Nancy, daughter of Cornelius Westerfield. She was born Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PEECINCT. 647 in Mercer Countj', Ky., July 4, 1816, and came to Daviess County with her parents when eight years of age. After his marriage Mr. Moseley went to farming on his farm of sixty acres, and shortly after bought the homestead of fifty acres of the heirs. He was an in- dustrious and energetic man, devoting most of his time to trt^ding in land. He was elected by the Democratic party to the State Legislature, serving two years. He was reared in the Methodist church, but afterward joined the Christian church. He died March 3, 1879, leaving a wife and eight children — Cornelius, married Salena Roach, and resides in Masonville ; Susan, wife of William Barrett, of Louisiana; John Wesley, married Malinda Ann Roach, and resides in Ohio County ; Narcissa, wife of Joseph Birkhead, of Whitesville; Arrillus, wife of Dr. Joseph Jett, of Ohio County; Cnrtis, married Sallie Wells, and resides in Whitesville ; Nanna, wife of James A. Carter, resides near Owensboro ; Cicero, married Susan A. Church, and resides on the old homestead. George W. Neel, born Jan. 15, 1826, in Shelby County, Ky., is a son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Miles) Neel. His mother died in 1832, leaving three children — Zerilda, George W. and Dora. His father then married Eliza Turnham. They had five children — Josiah, Richard E., Zachariah T., William A. and Rufqs P. When lie was sixteen years old his father came to Daviess County, and settled on a farm in Knottsville Precinct, where he died in March, 1873, aged eighty-five years. George W. Neel was educated in the common schools of his day. He lived with his father, working on the farm, till his marriage in October, 1852, to Mary E., daugh- ter of Aaron L. Hayes, when he went to farming on hie own ac- count. In 1856 he went to Edwards County, 111., but remained only four months, returning to Daviess County. After residing here three years he went to Yermillion County, Ind., and lived nine jears. In 1865 he again came to Daviess County, and the next year bought a farm. In 1876 he bought an addition to it, now own- ing 170 acres, well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Neel have eight chil- dren— William S., Sarah E., John R., Emily J., George A., Thomas F., Richard O. and Harry O. William S. married Sulla, daughter of John Evans, and John R. married Ann, daughter of S. W. Bartlett. Mason C. Pate, M. D., a, physician of Whitesville, was born March 11, 1814, in Breckinridge County, Ky. He began to prac- tice medicine in June, 1850, in Ohio County, and came to Daviess County nine months afterward ; settled in Whitesville, where he Digitized by Microsoft® 5i8 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. lias been engaged in the practice of his profession since, with the exception of two years, 1868-'9. Franklin P. Puroell was born in Grayson County, Ky., Nov. 17, 1S53. Eis father, James Purcell, is a native of Breckinridge, and moved to Grayson County with his parents when an infant. When a young man he took an active part in political matters. In 1852 he was elected Assessor of the county, holding the posi- tion eight or twelve years; was Magistrate of the county twenty years, and iu 1882 was elected County Judge on the Republican ticket. He married Sarali J. Litsey, a native of Graj^son County. They have had ten children, seven now living. Franklin P., the sixth child, was reared in Grayson County, and received his edu- cation there and at Cromwell, Ohio County. At the age of six- teen he commenced teaching school, and has since that time paid his own expenses. In 1875 he was married to Susan F. Mullen, daughter of George A. Mullen, and sister of George W. Mullen, of "Whitesville. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Breck- inridge County, working on the farm in summer and teaching school during the winter. Sept. 10, 1878, he joined the Pisgah Baptist church, near Cloverport, and was licensed to preach the same day. Oct. 11, 1880, he took charge of the school at Whites- ville. At present he is pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist church, and Mt. Pleasant Baptist church in Ohio County, Roseville Bap- tist church, Hancock County, and "Whitesville Baptist church, Daviess County. He has always been a hard worker, and since re- ceiving his license has preached every Sunday when well, with four exceptions. In August, 1879, he joined the Masons at Cloverport, and is now a member of Whitesville Lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Purcell have three children — Cora F., Franklin E. and Ethel Roderick. Robert liagsdale is an early settler in the county, and is the oldest man living in this precinct. He was born in Jessamine County, Jan. 10, 179i. His father, Godfrey Ragsdale, was born in Virginia, in Oulpeper County, and was an old Revolutionary soldier, having a captain's commission. He drew a pension from the Government for services "rendered in the war, till the time of his death, in 1844 or '5. He was married in Virginia to Elizabeth Mitchell. He came to Kentucky a aliort time after, and in 1784 settled in Jessamine County. There were ten children who lived to be married, nine sons and one daughter. Of these children four sons and the daughter are now living. Godfrey Ragsdale was a highly educated man, and during a large portion of his life Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PEJSCINOT. 549 he taught Bchool, mostly in Shelby and Henry counties. He was well read in law and did some practice, but being a man of an ex- citable temper, did not carry on his legal profession to any great extent. Robert Ragsdale is the fourth son of his father's family. He was reared in Shelby County, his father moving there when he was quite small. When he was eighteen years of age he enlisted in the service of the United States in the war of 1812, in the Eighth Kentucky Kegiment, raised in Shelby County, commanded by Colo- nel Geo. Wilcox. He went out with the first troops in 1812, en- listing for six months, but not serving quite this time. He went to the relief of the regular troops under command of General Taylor at Fort Harrison when it was attacked by Indians. After his time was out he returned home. In 1815 he went to Kanawha Salt WbrkSjOn the Kanawha River, in Virginia, and remained there eight months. He then returned to Shelby County and worked at the saddler's trade a number of years. In 1817 he was married in Henry County, Ky., to Nancy Haywood, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of Wm. Haywood, who was an early settler in Ken- tucky. After his marriage he followed his trade in Henry County a short time, and in 1817 moved to Nelson County, where he re- mained till 1832. His wife died in 1822, at her father's house, Henry County, while there on a visit. Sliewas the mother of one son — W. G.Ragsdale, who is residing near Whitesville. Mr. Rags- dale was married again to Nancy Money, in 1829. She was born in Virginia, a daughter of Samuel Money, who moved from that State to Nelson County, Ky. In 1832 Mr. Ragsdale came to Da- viess County and located at Knottsville and commenced farming, which vocation .he followed up to 1 860, when he became too feeble to do manual labor. His wife died Dec. 1, 1869, at the age of sixty-six years. She was the mother of one daughter — Mary Ann, wife of D. T. Hays, with whom Mr. Ragsdale makes his home. Politically Mr. Ragsdale was a member of the old Wliig party. During the late war he was a strong Union man, and since then has been a member of the Democratic party. He has always been a highly respected citizen of the county, and even in his old age retains his intellectual faculties to a remarkable degree. Benjamin t. Ramsey, born in Jefferson County, Ky., March 8, 1821, is a son of Aliraham and Sarah K. (White) Ramsey. His grandfather, Thomas Ramsey, was an early settler of Kentucky, from Virginia. He acquired a good common-scliool education. In 1842 he came to Ddviess County, and in January, 1843, he eu- Digitized by Microsoft® 550 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTT. gaged to teach a six-months' school at Burtonsville. In 1844 he went to Owensboro, and the following fall came to Whitesville, and was one of the founders of the village. He formed a partner- sliip with his cousin, Dr. White, and erected a store-house. A dvvelling-house was erected opposite the store, and thus the founda- tion of Whitesville was laid. Mr. Ramsey retained his interest in the store about two years, and was then alone for several years. He was in partnership with George W. Rhodes about a year and a h:df; then bonglit Mr. Rhodes' interest, and from 1855 to 1858 was in partnership with Taylor & McMahon. From 1858 till the latter part of 1859 he was in business alone; then was out of busi- ness several years, and in 1868 bought the store of Head & McKay. In the fall of 1874 he sold out to R. A. Bartlett, and the next year formed a partnership with him, remaining with him a year and a half. He then had charge of A. D. Mattingly's store till the spring of 1881. In 1847 Mr. Ramsey bought the farm of 100 acres, where he still resides. He was politically, originally, a Whig, and cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Olay. Since the dis- solution of Ehat party he has been a Democrat. In 1851 he was elected Magistrate of the precinct, retaining the office eight years. He is now Djputy Clerk, and has held the office at' intervals for over twenty years. Jan. 12, 1847, he married Sophronia Hays, a native of Henry County, Ky., whose father, John B. Hays, came to Daviess County in ITovember, 1835, settling near Whitesville. Tliey have eight children — Sallie E. (Mrs. Josiah Haynes), Sue R. (Mrs. Z. T. Neel), Thomas A., Harriet Josephine (Mrs. D. B. Bristow), John F., Annie E., Benjamin and William M. George W. Rhodes (deceased) was born April 27, 1813, in Marion County, Ky., where he lived till he was eighteen years old. In 1832 his parents moved to Daviess County and settled in Kiiottsville Precinct, where they remained till their death. His father died a short time after he came here, and before George was twenty-one he began to take care of himself. He made a trip to New Orleans on a flat-b>at, and soon after began working with timber, using what i* calleJ a whip saw to cut the timbjr into the required shape for biiilding purposes, furnishing a number of the neighbors with material t ,» build their homes. He followed this b'lsiness for three or four years with gook success. He was mar- ried in January, 1836, to Lucy Jane Dawson, and shortly after wont to farming. He bought ninety acres of land east of Whites- ville. In 1840 he sold his property and moved to Clarke County, Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON PEEOINCT. 6S1 Mo., where he remaiued nearly four years. In 1844 he returned to Daviess County, Ky., and bought the old place back again, where he made it his home till his death. In November, 1860, his wife died, at the age of forty-two years, leaving seven children —Elizabeth, wife of Henry Head; Nancy, wife of Felix Willis; James Lindsey; Valentine; Mary Frances, wife of Nathaniel Mc- Carty; George S.; Eebecca W., wife of Demetrius Brooks. May 14, 1861, Mr. Rhodes was married to Mrs. Elizabeth (Phillips) Ly- on^, who had been married twice before. Mrs. Rhodes was born in Ohio County, Oct. 26, 1818. Mr. Rhodes died Aug. 20, 1882. He was a member of the Baptist church at Whitesville. Mr. Rhodes was a good business man and accumulated considerable property, having at his death about 450 acres in the homestead. He was a member 'of high standing in the Masonic order. He was a citizen of the county who was highly respected, by every one. Oeo. S. Rhodes, born Oct. 14, 1851, in Daviess County, Ky., is a son of Geo . W. and Lucy Jane (Dawson) Rhodes. He was reared in Daviess County and was married Sept. 7, 1871, to Margaret E. I. Stinnett, daughter of Joel Stinnett, an early settler of Daviess County. After his marriage he lived in Henderson County on a farm for a year; then returned to Daviess County. In November, 1876, he moved to his farm east of "Whitesville, where he is now residing. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes have had five children, three sons and two daughters, one son deceased. George Stephens, born in Nelson County, Ky., Oct. 11, 1807, was a son of Thomas and Polly (Coof)er) Stephens. His father died in 1808 leaving two children — Beed and George, and his mother afterward married Caleb Hazel. They had five children- Samuel, Mathew, Ellen, Julia and Nancy. His mother died in 1873. Soon after his father's death George went to live with his Grandmother Cooper. He was married in 1829 to Nancy Winsatt, daughter of Felix Winsatt, and rented a farm, where he lived till 1845. He then came to Daviess County and bought the farm where he now lives, four miles southwest of Whitesville. He has 236 acres of good land which he has brought from an almost wild state to a well-cultivated condition. He has thirteen children- Mary Eliza, now Mrs. Athel Smith; Julia Ann, wife of James Ward; Sallie, wife of Joseph F. Rummage; William Henry, mar- ried Margaret Hardesty; Elizabeth, wife of James Rummage; Diel- len, wife of M. W. Hamilton ; Albin, married. Margaret Howard; Melissa Jane, wife of James Shively; Harriet, wife of JoUn Bam- Digitized by Microsoft® 652 HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. mage; Letitia, wife ofWilliam French; George, married Fannie Mayfield; Nancy and Cicely, all living in Daviess County. Mrs. Stephens died Nov. 8, 1873, aged fifty-six years. Mr. Stephens and his family are members of the St. Mary's Catholic Church, "Whitesville. James L. Stinnett^ born Sept. 1, 1837, in Daviess County, Ky., is a son of Joel Stinnett, a native of Green County, Ky., born in 1810, who came to Daviess County when ten years of age, with his father, and settled on the farm where he still lives. He mar- ried Lutitia Nelson, who died May 4, 1872, aged sixty-five years. They had fourteen children, seven living to be married. James L. is the eldest now living. In 1859 he married Martha J., daugh- ter of Lewis Earley. After his marriage he bought fifty acres in Ohio County, and went to farming. In three years he sold his farm and bought a larger one of 116 acres, where he lived five years. In 1868 he moved back to Daviess County, and went into the hotel business at Whitesville. March 12, 1871, his wife died, leaving two children — Virginia D., wife of John Kittinger, ol South Carrolton, and Joel L. July 25, 1871, Mr. Stiimett married Martha R., daughter of Isaac May, and a native of Ohio County. In 1872 Mr. Stinnett went into the general merchandising busi- ness, and in 1878 sold out, and is now in the tobacco business, handling about 200,000 pounds per year. Mr. and Mrs. Stinnett have three children — William A., Lou A. and Lawrence M. Mr. Stinnett is a member of the Baptist church. Joseph F. Stockton, born Dec. 8, 1847, in Mississippi County, Miss., is a son of William S. and Mahalia (Wallace) Stockton, natives of Virginia and South Carolina. When lie was six months old his father died, and his mother afterward married Charles Colyer. Joseph F. lived at home till fifteen years of age, and then started out to seek his own livelihood, first going about twelve miles from home, where he lived with a man named R. S. Crinshaw a year. He then came to Daviess County, arriving here $6.00 in debt for his coat, besides his passage on the boat. He was assisted by C. D. Temple, with whom he lived four years, working for him on the farm. He also dealt quite extensively in horses during this time, an occupation he has engaged in more or less since that time. He then Avent to Hancock County, and lived with Thomas H. Estes two years; then returned to Daviess County and lived with J. H. Bell. While living here he attended a school taught by J. F. Hite, during the fall and winter, which Digitized by Microsoft® BOSTON FBECINOT. 553 was the only schooling he ever had. Nov. 7, 1870, he started on a visit to his mother and grandparents, who were living in Arkan- sas, and returned July 2, 1871, making the entire trip on horse- back. April 27, 1876, he married Marena E., daughter of L. B. M. Wells, who was born in Boone County, Ky., July 13, 1853, and came to Daviess County when nine years of age. After his marriage he moved onto a farm. Feb. 23, 1880, he moved to Whitesville, though he carried on his farm till 1881. In August, 1881, he was elected Marshal of Whitesville, -and re-elected in 1882. Mr. Stockton is an energetic man, and it is to his own untiring efiorts that he owes his success thus far in life. He has never been under the influence of liquor, though his olficial duties have constantly brought him in contact with those addicted to its use. Mr. and Mrs. Btockton have one child — Phyllis, bom Aug. 20, 1881. William A. Stone was born in Owensboro, Daviess County, Ky., Oct. 4, 1831. His parents were Joseph S. and Anna (Atkins) Stone, natives of Kentucky. They had a family of four children, all bom in Daviesa County. The parents were married in Daviess County. William M. was their eldest son and their second child. He remained on the farm with his father until twenty-one, and then worked for difierent parties until the late war, when he enlisted in Captain Taylor's company, Twelfth and Eighth Kentucky Confed- erate Cavalry, Cypress Regiment, remaining in the service until the close of the war, and then returned to Daviess County. He married Cleopatra J. A. Howard, June 26, 1878, daughter of Thomas J. and Perais (Barnhill) Howard. After his marriage Mr. Stone settled on his present farm in Boston Precinct, where he owns fifty-five acres. On his farm there is a part of the cele- brated wolf hiU where there is one of the finest veins of coal in the State. This is some of the best coal west of the Pennsylvania coal mines. It has less than two per cent, ashes. Mr. Stone is now mining it. It is fine blacksmith's coal. Mrs. Stone is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Walter Ward, eon of John and Mary (McKinney) Ward, was born in Jessamine County, Ky., March 9, 1810, and when eighteen months eld his parents came to Daviess County, and settled on the present Ward farm. There was a family of twelve-children, all of whom grew to maturity, but only two now living. His father was bom Jan. 20, 1757, and died Oct. 10, 1847. His mother was bora Sept. 18, 1768, and died Sept. 1, 1867. April 16, 1839, Walter Digitized by Microsoft® 554 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Ward married Rachel Ann Porter Helm, daughter of John Helm, who was born in Shelby Couaty, Jan. 23, 1817, and came to Daviess County in 1838. They have no children. Mr. Ward has 402^ acres of land in Daviess County. laham Wells, born Jan. 19, 1844, in Daviess County, Ky., is a son of J. P. and L. (Morgan) Wells, natives of Shelby and Clark counties respectively. Mr. Wells came to Daviess County at an early day, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Isham, at that time an unbroken tract. He died in January, 1852. Mrs. Wells is still living, aged seventy-two years. Isham Wells was educated in the district schools, and being reared a farmer, has always fol- lowed that occupation. His father dying when he was but eight years old, left the whole care of the farm to his mother, which he assumed as soon as he was old enough. He has 140 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation. Since the fall of 1861 he has been a member of the Christian church. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XIX. CURD3VILLE PRECINCT. This precinct was thus bounded in 1867: Beginning at corner of Daviess and McLean counties on Green River, thence with Mc- Lean County line to Mrs. Tanner's old place, thence to Adam Young's, thence to Lyddan's bridge, thence down Panther Creek to Glenn's bridge, thence with Glenn's bridge and Owensboro road to the north end of the Pearce farm, including same, thence a line to Green River, excluding I. Hazlewood and the Windsor farm, thence up said river to the beginning. Sorghotown Precinct has since been cut off. In 1872 West Louisville voting place was established for voters within the following boundaries: Beginning in the Curdsville and Calhoon road where the county line between Daviess and McLean crosses said road, thence along the middle of said road toward Curdsville to where the Owensboro and Delaware road crosses the Curdsville and Calhoon road, thence along the middle of the Owensboro and Delaware road toward Owensboro to East Knob Lick Creek at Hardesty's bridge, thence down said creek to Pan- ther Creek, then up Panther Creek to Ljddan's bridge, thence -with the line between Yanover and Curdsville precincts to the place of beginning. Curdsville was named after H. T. Curd, of the firm of H. T. •Curd & Co., Louisville, who gave A. Spray a barrel of rectified whisky to call the precinct by that name in honor of himself. It is situated in the extreme southwest portion of the county, and lies mostly south of Panther Creek, but a portion extends north of that stream. The soil is very productive; generally undulating and hilly; some hills are high. Some places along the water-coul-ses are occasionally overflowed and in consequence have not been set- tled very rapidly. There are not less than 3,000 or 4,000 acres of coal in this precinct. This coal is of excellent quality, and four to four and one third feet thick. (555) Digitized by Microsoft® 666 histObt of daviess cotrafXY. BAELT SETTLBMENT. Oardsville Precinct was first settled by William Glenn, of Nel- son County, in 1797, on the north side of Panther Creek, and three miles above its mouth, by a large spring of fresh water. This spring furnishes sufiicient water, if utilized, to turn a mill. It flows as freely and as strong as it did eighty-five years ago when Mr. Glenn first settled there; at present, the honse of Chapman Boswell stands within 200 yards of it. Mr. Glenn raised a fam- ily of nine children, five girls and four boys, most of whom settled around him. Two of his sons, Duke and James, afterward went to Texas. Mr. Glenn was a celebrated Indian fighter and had many very narrow escapes; but he always carried off his prize, which was the scalp of the red skin. His son William was Colo- nel of militia, a Representative in the Legislature, and Sheriff of this county. Mr. Glenn died in 1820 on the old homestead. John Galloway, William Faith and Mr. Travis came very soon after Mr. Glenn. Mr. Galloway settled on the farm now occupied by the Traverse family, one and a half miles south of the Catholic church. He raised a large' family, and lived to a good old age. Mr. Faith settled near Mr. Galloway, and also lived to be very old, and died in this precinct, leaving five children. Mr. Travis died many years ago. Some of his grandchildren still live here. Next came Adam Jorden and Rev. Joseph Hobbs; the latter was a Baptist minister, and settled near Mr. Faith. Mr. Jorden killed fifty-two buffalo the first year after his coming. The last bear he killed was on a black-oak tree then standing on the edge of the Calhoon road. Thomas Downs was the first man who lived in the vicinity of Alphonsus' Catholic Church. He built a house on the hill half a mile south of the church and directly opposite the place subse- quently occupied by Dr. Blincoe. JOHN WRIGHT. As this gentleman is the oldest living resident of Curdsville Pre- cinct, he deserves more extended notice. He was born in Green (now Taylor) County, Ky., April 8, 1804. His father, William Wright, was born near Culpeper Court-Hou8e,Ya., June ]0, 1776. His mother, Betsey (Brents) Wright, was born in Nelson County, Ky. Her father, Captain John Brents, joined General George Rogers Clark at Louisville when Governor Dinwiddle sent the Digitized by Microsoft® 0UBD8V1LLE PRECINCT. 557 latter out to take possession of Ohio Yalley. Captain Brents helped build the first fort, and made the first settlement where Louisville now stands; he was drowned at Ohio Falls while passing over the rapids in a boat with his company, the boat havinpj foun- dered on a rock, and capsized. John Wright was brought to McLean (then Ohio) County by his parents in 1807, who settled at Beech Grove. There were then only three families in the neighborhood. There were eleven children iu his father's family, John being the second. "^He has one sister living — Elizabeth, who married a man named Joseph Wright, but not a relative. John settled where he now resides in 1841. When twenty-one years of age he com- menced running flat-boats on the river to New Orleans, and kept it up for nearly twenty years. Mr. Wright says that in pioneer days a quart of whisky would roll logs for a man all day, but now it takes two gallons. He used to pack salt on a horse from Saline, near Shawneetown, HI., a distance of sixty miles, for which he paid one dollar a bushel, and could get only three bushe s for each family. He remembers when John Dicken, a Methodist preacher, killed Lem. White, about 1810 or 1815. White was trying to get into Dieken's house to kill him; Dicken, having no bullets, broke the handle from a pewter spoon, rammed it down his gun, and shot White through a crack in the wall. He immediately gave himself up, but was acquitted. Mr. Wright was Deputy Sheriff of this county thirteen years, when a portion of it was McLean County. The early settlers were very hospitable. There were very few pistols can-ied, fighting being usually done with the fist. Some- times two meii would fight, then drink, aud become friends before the blood ceased to flow from their wounds. CHUECHES. Pleasant Hill (Knob Lick) Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was oraranized by C . C. Boswell in the fall of 1840, at the house aS. Stephen S. Winstead, on north side of Panther Creek. Most of their people lived on the south side of the creek, and for a time services were held, alternately, on both sides, in private houses. For a few yeSrs they occupied the Knob Lick school-house, on Knob Lick Creek, from which it was nicknamed. In 1846 they built a log house, 26 x 20 feet, near where the present church stands, on two acres of land donated by a gentleman from Indiana. The present strncture was built in 1865. It is a frame building, 56 x40 Digitized by Microsoft® 558 HI8T0KY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. feet. The present membership is 111. Services every alternate Sunday by Elder Willis Smith, of Owensboro. Eev. C. C. Bos- well, the first pastor, lives near Mattingly's bridge, north of Panther Creek. The Baptists also hold services in this church; services the first Sunday in each month by Rev. Benjamin Bracket, of McLean County. St. RaphaeVs Catholic Church, situated three miles east of West Louisville, was established in 1832 by Father Derbin, of Union County, Ky. There were only six families in the congregation, and they worshiped in private houses until 1842, when they erected a hewed log house of worship under the direction of Father Schacht, the communicants performing the labor. Esquire J. T. Blanford and Urbin Hayden sawed all the lumber with a whip saw. The size of the building was 24x40 feet. In 1850 this church was burned, and the congregation united with the St. Al- phonsus congregation in building the present church where the latter worship. In 1864 they rebuilt at the old place. This build- ing was of hewed logs, 50 x 40 feet, with the addition of a sacrista 20 x 16 feet; since the erection of the present edifice, it has been used as a tobacco house. The magnificent structure where they now worship, was built in 18Y9 by Father G. A. Vantroostenburg, pastor. It is built of brick, is 90 x 42 feet, with a steeple 96 feet high, containing an 800-pound bell. The entire cost of the building was f 5,500, exclusive of the pews, which will cost nearly $1,000. One hundred families worship here. St. Alphonsua^ Catholic Church was built in 1854 by Rev. Wal- ter Coombs, on land donated by John Rodman. Mr. Coombs was a very zealous clergyman, and at that time the only priest in the county. Mass was first offered up by Rev. John Boyle, who was stationed at St. Raphael's Church, and served at St. Alphonsns' Church once a month for two years. After he left Rev. Eugene O'Callaghan officiated. He was a good and zealous man, never failing to fill his appointments. He served this church once a month for four years, being at that time stationed at Owensboro. In 1861 the Rev. Ivo Schacht was sent to St. Alphonsus' by Rev. Martin Spalding as the first resident pastor. He enlarged the old church building, which ,had become too small, and purchased a lot from James Glenn and built St. Joseph's Female Academy, which was occupied by the Sisters of Loretto, of Marion County, Ky. It was a frame building, and was accidentally burned in 1870. Mr. Schacht was succeeded by Rev. Charles Eggermont, and during his admin- Digitized by Microsoft® CL'EDSVILLE PRECINCT. 559 istration the old frame church was burned. He immediately made arrangements to build the present brick church, but before its com- pletion he was called to fill a professorship at St. Joseph's College, at Bardstown, Kentucky. Rev. Paul Yolk, the present pastor, took his place. He finished the church building, and rebuilt St. Joseph's Academy, which is now occupied by the Ursuline nuns. The church is 84 x 45 feet, and has a graceful spire. It is situated fifteen miles southwest of Owensboro, and there is a membership of about 1,200. A beautiful cemetery adjoins the church. This part of Daviess County is settled almost entirely by Catholics, and it is a remarkable fact that during a period of more than twelve years not a murder has been committed by a member of this church. The following is a list of all the priests that have served this church : Revs. E. J. Durbin, from 1825 to 1831 ; John Wathen, 1831 to 1837; Walter Coombs, 183Ttol846; Athanasius And, 1846 to 1848 ; John Boyle, 1848 to 1850 ; Eugene Callaghan, 1850 to 1861; Ivo Schacht, 1861 to 1864; Charles Eggermont, 1864 to 1870; Paul Yolk, 1870 to the present time; Rev. Michael Coghlan, of Ireland, 1848 to 1871. From 1846 to the present time there have been from two to seven priests within the county. The members belonging to St. Alphousus' Church are all Amer- icans, coming chiefly from Marion, Nelson and Washington coun- ties, whose ancestors came from Maryland. The baptismal registers show that from 1861 to 1881, 900 infants have been baptized in this congregation. Children all receive a good Christian education in the district school. MOUNT ST. Joseph's academy. This institution is in charge of the Ursuline nuns, from Louis- ville, Ky., and was founded in 1862 by the late Rev. Ivo Schacht. The building was formerly occupied by the Loretto sisters, of Marion County, but was burned down. It was rebuilt by the Ur- suline nuns, and is beautifully situated on a hill adjoining St. Alphonsus' Church. The building is a four-story brick, 78 x 35 feet. In 1882 a convent building was added, which is also of brick, and is three stories high. It is seventy-two feet long by twenty-five wide, with a fine exhibition hall on the ground floor. The third story is used for a chapel, and the second story is occupied by the nuns. The institution was chartered Feb. 19, 1S80, with power to confer academic honors, diplomas, etc. There is a full corps of teachers; the school is designed for the education of young ladies. Digitized by Microsoft® 660 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. H0HSB-MILL8. There was a horse-mill erected some years ago, about a mile south of West Louisville, on the land now belonging to J. E. Clark. It is still used for grinding corn. One was also erected over twenty-five years ago by the late John Crabtree; it still stands on the farm by the old homestead, but has not been used for several years. CUBDSVILLE FEEBY. This ferry was established across Green River in 1855, by Mad- ison Priest, of Henderson County, Ky., and was first run by Wood- son Owen, who leased it two years, then one Mr. Hnsk ran it two years. In 1859 it was sold to Oldham and Hallmark; but the title proved to be poor, and Hallniark went into bankruptcy. Oldham secured a good title for the Henderson County side in 1869, and has retained possession ever since. He secured a title to the Da- viess County side in 1879. It has cost Mr. Oldham over $2,000 besides the first purchase, which was $1,400. THE PIONEER SCHOOL-HOUSE. This ancient relic of great antiquity still stands in Curdsville Precinct, just as it was used in 1820. The chimney is in the cen- ter of the room instead of one end. There is a puncheon floor and a clapboard roof. A log is out for a window, almost the entire length of the building. The window has a single sash, with sixty panes of glass in it. It is the oldest school-house in Daviess County. CUBDSVILLE. This tjiriving little village is situated on Green River, immedi- ately above the mouth of Panther Creek, and about fourteen miles southwest of Owensboro. The first settler was George Husk, who came in 1818, and built a small cabin where H. Webb now lives. John Eads came in 1822, and cleared four acres of land. His wife died soon after, and Mr. Eads broke up house- keeping. John Traverse bought the place, and died there in 1833. Aquilla Spray settled here in 1842, and built a log cabin. He kept a dram shop several years; also kept the first store in Curds- ville. Brown & Allen biiilt a house under the hill in 1862, and kept the second store; they became bankrupt about 1858. Calvin Bennett built a blacksmith shop in 1852. Digitized by Microsoft® CURDSVILLE PEECINCT. 561 Cardeville postoffice was first established about tweiiU- years ago, anil Aquilla Spray was the first Postmaster. Prior to 1871 mail was carried by private individuals, and nothing was jiaid to the postmaster. Ourdsville now contains one general store, one grocery, glass, queen's-ware and hardware store, one drug store, two whisky shops, one blacksmith shop, two livery stables, three tobacco factories, one mill, one physician, one shoe shop, one lawyer, one undertaker, one police judge, one town marshal, five trustees and a calaboose. CHURCHES. CurdsviUe Methodist Episcopal Cliurch was organized in 1865, by Rev. H. J. ilamey. Worship was first held in the house built as a union house, but was purchased by this society soon after the organization. Services every third Saturday and Sunday of each month, by Rev. E. A. Davis. The trustees are T. P. Bethel, Alfred McCain, and James T. Cummings. There are now eleven mem- bers. Methodist Episcopal Church, South was organized in 1859, by Rev. Mr. Reed; Rev. Mr. Seeley was Presiding Elder. Soon after the organization, the society commenced to build a house of worship; but the war breaking out about that time, the work was suspended. The building was afterward completed by the people, for a union house, but has since been purchased by the Meth- odist Episcopal church. The "South" church continue to occupy it, however. The Pastors that have served this church are, Revs. Harwell, Widney, Campbell, G. W. Lyon, "Wilson Williams, Thomas Fallon, L. B. Davidson, Brandon, and Thurman, the present pastor. Services e<*ery fourth Saturday and Sunday of each mouth. Oreen River Baptist Church. — This church was organized in 1870, bj Rev. Daniel Yizer, who was also the first pastor, and re- mained with them five or six years. This society also worshiped in the building previously spoken of as "union" house. The present Clerk is Columbus McDonald, and the Deacons are H. H. McCain and Robert Good. There are about fifty communicants. DELAWARE. This village was laid out in 1864, by Andrew M. Allen, being a part of his farm on Green River. It is situated in the extreme 36 Digitized by Microsoft® 562 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. southwest part of the count}', and stands on the bank of Green River, twenty-one miles from Owensboro. It takes its name from Delaware Creek, which flows into Green River, a short distance above the town. The first settler was Colonel Samuel C. Harralson, who came to Kentucky in 1816 from North Carolina, and to this county in 1835. He kept store in Delaware a few years. He married Ellen Allen, and they had nine children. Mr. Harralson was murdered and robbed on the road between Delaware and Calhoon, in August, 1859. The first store was kept by Henry Fleming, in 1844; second store was kept by S. C. Harralson, in 1849, and the third in 1858, by H. C. Cosby, who sold to A. M. Allen in the fall of 1859. Mr. Allen continued the business for several years. The first black- smith shop was built by Colonel Harralson,. who hired a smith to work in it. Colonel H. also built the first school-house; it has now rotted down. Dr. B. F. Harralson was the first physician ;h came in 1861, and is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Pa. The postoflice was established iu 1862, and the first Postmaster was A. M. Allen. He held the office until 1872. The present Post- master is Joseph Carico. MILLS AND FAOTOEIES. The first mill in Delaware was built by Hall, Moore & Eurkhart, in 1868. It was a saw-mill and corn-cracker. They sawed for the penitentiary at Jeffersonville, Ky., three years, when the firm failed. It was subsequently purchased by A. M. Allen, who sold in 1876 to W. J. Lumpkin, of Owensboro. The latter gentleman added aflouring mill in 1 877. It is run by steam, forty horse-power, and saws hard lumber and building, material, grinds wheat and corn; has a capacity of sixty barrels of flour a day. It is first-class flour and is fast gaining a reputation. The second grade looks almost as well as the first grade. They make an excellent quality of bolted meal; use the Eureka separator and emutter, a popular improvement. The mill is run by J. R. Lambert. Delaware Handle Factory was built in the fall of 1881, by Tur- ner, Day & Co., of Louisville, Ky., and was run by Nathan Brum- field; twenty to fifty men were employed. It was burned Nov. 17, 1882. There are three tobacco factories: one owned by A. M. Allen, one by S. C. Cook and one by N. B. Cook. Digitized by Microsoft® OUBDSVILLB PREOINOT. 668 This ferry was established over forty years ago by S. 0. Harrai- son. It was a private enterprise before roads were made; since that time it has been used for public benefit. It has been run by several different parties since Colonel Harralson's death, and is now owned by his son, Robert A. Harralson. Delaware now contains one dry-goods store, one general store, one drug store, two groceries and saloons combined, two churches, one blacksmith shop, one flouring and saw mill, owned by W. J. Lumpkin, and two physicians. OHtTEOHES. Delaware Christian Church was organized Oct. 21, 1877, by Elder Jeffres, of Union County, Ky., with thirty members. The first Deacons were John H. Davis, A. H. Landefer and P. H. Wells. Elder David Pickens held services here a few years previous to its organization. The first pastor was Elder Simpson Kearn, who is the present pastor. The house is a neat frame, built io 1864 by the Christians, long before they organized themselves into a body. It is 60 X 40 feet. B. F. Harralson is Clerk. Methodist Episcopal Church, South. — This church was organ- ized in 1871 by Eev. Thomas Fallen. The society worshiped in private houses and tobacco factories until 1875, when they built a church 52 x 34 feet. It is a neat frame building, fourteen feet high. Services are held once a month by Eev. Mr. Clarkson. The Trust- ees are H. K. Wilson, A. M. Allen and N". B. Cook, dumber of communicants, twenty-five. There is a Sabbath-school in con- nection with this church. WEST LOUISVILLE. This enterprising little village was named by James A. Sivers, who built the first log cabin at this point, and kept the first whisky shop; also built and kept the first grocery in 1864. He continued this business several years, then sold to Henry Ehenart, The latter built a house, and rebuilt a frame story on top of Mr. Sivers' house. The first dry -goods store was kept by Stowers & Bosley in 1866. They ran it two years and sold to James W. Stowers, who took Eobert Williams in as partner. The first drug store was kept by N. M. Stowers about 1875. The first blacksmith shop was kept by Digitized by Microsoft® 564 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. John Clements as earlj' as 1853, which was the second house built at this place. The first physician, Dr. Y. Orsboru, located in 1865, and is still practicing here. Dr. T. W. Blanfbrd came in 1876, and Dr. 11. K. Orsborn in 1880. The first school-house was built in 1875 by a stock company, and was first used as a private school, but was afterward purchased by the district. West Louisville contains about seventy- five inhabitants, one grocery, one drug store, one restaurant, two blacksmith shops, two hotels, one tobacco factory, one livery stable, one barber shop, one saddle and harness sliop, one undertaker, three physicians, one magistrate, one constable, one cabinet maker, who is also a painter and paper-hanger. The postofEce was established in 1862 and N. M. Stowers was the first Postmaster. The mail was thei*. carried by the citizens. The regular mail route was established in 1875. J. E. Thompson is the present Postmaster. It is the second post- office only to Oweneboro in the county. Although West Louisville is in Curdsville Precinct, it has a sep- arate voting place, and is known as Curdsville, No. 2. POSSUM TEOT, in Curdsville Precinct, two and a half miles west of Blue Eiver, was named by J. P. Waltrip, who said that the narrow hollov/s surrounding that ridge was full of 'possums. There are two dwelling houses and one small grocery. EJUed hy Lightning. — June 1, 1881, in the afternoon, Cyril Thompson and his son John were out in an open field near West Louisville replanting corn during a violent thunder-storm, when they were both struck by lightning, and the latter killed. An- other son, William, had been killed during the war by an act of retaliation upon guerrillas generally, although he himself was con- fessedly innocent. These two events in one family more than doubled, if possible, the indescribable affliction which they were called upon to suffer. ELECTIONS. For the politics of the various parties, see Lower Town Precinct. 1852, Aug. 2: Sheriff— Landrum, 196; Veach, 18. For rail- road tax, 82; against 132. 1854, Aug. 7: Justice — Spray, 103. Constable — Price, 46; Travis, 146. Appellate Judge — JohnH. McHenry, 89; H. J. Stites, 71. County Judge— A. G. Botts, QQ; George D. Yeaman, 131. Digitized by Microsoft® OUEDSVILLE PBECINOT. 565 Commonwealth Attorney — Mitchell Oalhoon, 126; William Sweney, 66. Connty Clerk — Graham Hughes, 117; James B. Watkins, 59. SheriflF— Eobert P. Sharp, 124; Joseph Harrison, T7. Assessor — Thomas Gore, 24; James Stillman, 83; George L. Hey wood, 61; James Lashbrook, 17; A. Johnson, 6. Surveyor— Samuel Shep- herd, 174. Coroner — William Johnson, 101; Harrison Manzy, 78. 1856, May 5: Justice — Andrew Waltriss, 126 ; Aquilla Spray, 125; Charles E. Drury, 66. Constable— Samuel Lamb, 42; Duke Glenn, 91; George W. Hall, 34. 1866, Aug. 4: Circuit Judge — Jesse W. Kir cheloe, 72; James Stuart, 75. Commonwealth Attorney — B. H. Helm, 65. Circuit Clerk— J. Thomas, 117; J. P. Thompson, 110. Sheriff— J. G. Mc- Farland, 160; J. G. Harrison, 49. 1856, Nov. 4: President— Buchanan, 131; Fillmore, 58. 1867, May 2: Constable— N. S. Anderson, 89; William M. Stembridge, 33. 1857, Aug. 3: State Treasurer— T. L. Jones, 42; J. H. Garrard, 141. Congressman — J. L. Johnson, 54; S. 0. Peyton, 167. Sen- ator—W. B. Wall, 62; A. D. Cosby, 151. Kepresentative to Leg- islature—F. J. McLean, 64; F. M. Daily, 161. 1858, Aug. 2: Appellate Clerk— K. K Hevill, 140; G. K. McKee, 40. Commonwealth Attorney — Jesse Taylor, 145; C. C. Maxwell, 54. County Judge— L. D. Shepherd, 42; A. G. Botts, 50. County Clerk— S. McClarty, 60; J. B. Watkins, 159. Sheriff— Jo. Yeach, 146; John Locke, G6. County Attorney— J. McHenry, 36; H. E. Smith, 132. Assessor— J. W. Onan, 187. Surveyor— H. Scott, 141. Coroner— W. C. Norris, 132. Justice— J. E. Bethel, 93; A. Eiggs, 118. 1859, Aug. 1: Governor— Beriah Magoffin, 161; J. F. Bell, 56. Congressman — S. 0. Peyton, 176; James Jackson, 54. Represen- tative to Legislature — G. McFarland, 158; Thomas Landrum, 78; Thomas G. Watkins, 162. County Clerk— Marcus L. Ogden, 66. 1859, May 7: Justices — Walter Bartley, 116; J. H. Hodgkins, 47; J. E. Bethel, 80; Adam Young, 139. Constable— Frank H. Pottinger, 61; T. E. Long, 125. 1860, Aug. 6: Appellate Clerk — Clinton McClarty, 121; Leslie Combs, 26. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 135; John Locke, 75. County Attorney — James E. Claybrook, 73 ; J . H. Mc Henry, 21. Ju s- tice — A. Spray, 90; Charles E. Drury, 82. Colonel— Eobert S. Boyd, 600. Lieutenant-Colonel — J. P. Thompson, 50. 1861, June 20: Congressman — J. T. Bunch, 70; J. S. Jackson, 62. Digitized by Microsoft® 566 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 1861, Aug. 5: State Treasurer — G. Terry, none reported; J. H. Garrard, 84. Senator— J. B. Vance, 82; Win. Antliony, 126. Eepresentative to Legislature — C. T. Noel, 77; G. H. Teaman, 129. Constable— H. C. Willingham, 145. 1862, Aug. 4: Appellate Judge — K. A. Williams, 60. Circuit Judge-^Jaines Stuart, 2; H. B. Wall, 72. Presiding Judge— T. L. Beers, 29; A. G. Botts, 36. Commonwealth Attorney — John Chapeze, 50. County Attorney — H. S- McFarland, 56. Circuit Clerk— J. Thomas, 58. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 70. Sher- ifi — J. G. Harrison, 65. Assessor — V. S. Moseley, 63. Surveyor — N. W. Scott, 26. Coroner— J. W. Eosa, 20. 1862, Oct. 27: Congressman — G. H. Yeaman, 28; Edward K. Weir, 10. 1862, Dee. 8: Representative to Legislature — J. S. McFar- land, 53. 1863, May 2: Justices— A. Spray, 37; J. H. Haskins, 40; R- N. Warren, 17. Constable— T. N. Lee, 40. 1863, Aug. 3: .Governor — T. E. Bramlette, 60. Congressman — G. H. Yeaman, 68; J. H. McHenry, 20. Representative to Legislature — J. S. McFarland, 83. 1864, Aug. 1: Sheriff— J. G. Harrison,50; A. J. McAtee. 7. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 53. 1864, Nov. 8: Presidsnt- Geo. B. McClellan, 166; A.Lin- coln, 2. 1865, Aug. 7: Congressman — G. H. Yeaman, 17; B. C. Ritter, 65. State Treasurer — W. S. Neale, 5; J. H. Garrard, 15; Sena- tor— A. D. Cosby, 95. Representative to Legislature — J. Yeech, 52; T. Maddux, 10. 1866, Aug. 6: Appellate Clerk— E. H. Hobson, 35; A. Duval, 197. County Judge— E. C. Berry, 48; J. S. McFarland, 69; G. W. Triplett, 125. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 73; J. M. Hughes, 23; B. Duncan, 7; T. C. Jones, 139. Sheriff— W. H. Perkins, 142; E. A. Hathaway, 75. County Attorney— A. R. Taylor, 134; Thomas Crutcher, 24. Coroner — H. O'Brien, 47. Assessor — J- W. Onan, 214; J. T. Moseley, 2; J. J. Talbott, 1. Surveyor— A- W. Scott, 192. For railroad tax, 67; against, no votes reported. 1867, April 15: For county stock of $250,000 in the Owensboro & Russellville Railroad, 20; against, 217. 1867, May 4: Congressman — Joim Y. Brown, 223; B. C. Ritter, 16; S.E. Smith, 6. Justices— J. C. Blandford, 191; D. Priest, 190; J. H. Hodgkins, 63; A. Spray, 44. Constable— Jacob Hill, 155; J. Wright, 82. Digitized by Microsoft® CUBDSVILLE PKECINOT. 567 1867, Aug. 5 : Governor— J. L. Helm, 181; W. B. Kinkead, 4. Gircnit Judge— G. W. "Williams, 88; J. L. Johnson, 108. Common Pleas Jud^e- C. G. Wintersmith, 67; L. P. Little, 73. Repre- sentative to Legislature — J. Yeeeh, 11; J. W. Moseley, 184; H. 0. McPherson, 6. 1868, Nov. 3: President— H. Seymour, 314; U. S. Grant, 8. Congressman— W. ISI. Sweeney, 314; Samuel Langley, 2. 1869, May 1 : Constable— J. Hill, 128. 1869, Aug. 2: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 158; E. R. "Wing, 5. Senator — Ed. Hawes, 191. Representati e to Legislature — C. Griffith, 188; J. "W, Gaffert, 2. County Attorney— "V. T. Crawford, 176. For school tax, 34; against, 169. Constable — Jacob Hill, 177; S. O'Brien, 32. 1870, Aug. 1 : Applellate Judge— "Wm. Lindsay, 193. R. K. "Williams, 18. Circuit Judge— M. F. Cofer, 204. County Judge — G. "W. Triplett, 218, A. G. Botts, 11. County Clerk— T. Jones, 228; J. K. P. Moore, 9. County Attorney— "W. T. Ellis, 213; S. H. Haynes, 10. Sheriff— W. H. Scott, 220; T. Maddux, 10. Surveyor — J. "W. Sutherland, 215; A. M. Mayo, 10. Assessor — J. "W. Onan, 196; E. J. "Wootten, 10. Coroner— A. J. McAtee, 227; W. J. Littell, 9. 1870, Nov. 8: Congressman— H. D. McHenry, 122; M. J. Rork, 19. 1871, May 6: Justices— H. Hodgkins, 161; D. Prisst, 74; C. Blandford, 182; Jo. Hall, 177; Jacob Hill, 127. Constable- Henry Glenn, 207, G. "W. Mattingly, 81; John Hodgkins, 51. 1871, Aug. 7, Governor — P. H. Leslie, 336; John M. Harlan, 25. Representative to Legislature — C. Griffith, 334; S.JH. Jesse. 13; F. H. Roberts, 19. 1872, Aug. 5 : County Clerk— Jo. Thomas, 68; J. G. McFar- land, 337. Sheriff— "W. H. Perkins, 348; David Webb, 12. 1872, Nov. 5: President— H. Greeley, 318; U. S. Grant, 47; C. O'Conor, 2. Congressman — John Y. Brown, 188. 1873, May 3 : Constable— "W. L. Goodrnra, 36; J. H. Hodg- kins, 152. 1873, Aug. 4: State Treasurer— J. "W. Tate, 286. Senator— E. Hawes, 76; G. W. Swoop, 291; G. "W. Jolly, 10. Representar tive to Legislature— "Ben Stout, 262; R. W. McFarland, 33; H. McGill, 21; H. T. And, 45. 1874, Aug. 3 : Appellate Clerk— T. C. Jones, 249; J. B. Coch- ran, 11. Circuit Judge — L, P. Little, 165; James Montgomery, Digitized by Microsoft® 588 HISTOBY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 115; James Stewart, 40. Commonwealth Attorney — E. H. Brown, 102; Jo. Haycraft, 200. Circuit Clerk— F. F. Conway, 330. County Judge— G. W. Triplett, 258; G. W. Jolly, 79. County Attorney— W. T. KUis, 320. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 329. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 316. Coroner— G. W, Mathis, 239; Galloway, 8; Crask, 8. Surveyor — Robert Frey, 292. Assessor — W. G. AuU, 310. 1874, Nov. 3: Congressman — J. Y. Brown, 299; George Smith, 5; Edward Weir, 12. 1875, May 1 : Justices— J. F. Blandford, 123: J. H. Hodgkins, 325; A. Spray, 177; Joseph Hall, 124. Constable— W". S. Rine- hart, 16; J. R. Wimsett, 177; Noah Williams, 84. 1875, Aug. 2 : Governor— J. B. McCreery, 301 ; J. M. Harlan, 39. Representative to Legislature — W. J. Taylor, 186; J. G. Ford, 151; A. J. Philpot, 128. Surveyor— C. W. Gordon, 253. 1876, Aug. 7 : Circuit Judge— G. W. Ray, 183; J. A. Murray, 243. Sheriff— J. H. Gates, 202; R. R. Coomes, 284. For road law, 20; against, 481. Justices — R. M. Rodman, 288; A. Spray, 200. Constable — Wimsett, 452. 1876, Nov. 2 : President^-S. J. Tilden, 442^ R. B. Hayes, 26; Smith, 43. Congressman — J. A. McKenzie, 431; J. Z. Moore, 12. 1877, Aug. 6: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 255 ; I. H. Trabue, 33. Senator— 0. Griffith, 282; V. P. Stateler, 49. Representative to Legislature — C. R. Thorp, 277 ; A. Craycroft, 277 ; J. A. Shakelford, 35. 1878, Aug. 5: Appellate Judge — T. H. Hinds, 352. County Judge- H. W. Scott, 355 ; G. W. Jolly, 59. County Attorney— J. L. McFarland, 368. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 413. Sheriff— E. C. Davis, 368; E. S. Worthington, 30. Assessor— G. AUgood, 260; C. W. Thomas, 11. Surveyor— C. W. Gordon, 364. Coroner— J. W. Funk, 350. Justices— J. T. Blandford, 375; R. M. Rodman, 378. Constable— G, T. Yillito, 448 ; W. S. Rinehart, 14. 1878, Nov. 6:Congre8sman-J. A. McKenzie, 159; J. W. Feighan, 3; F. M. English, 8. 1879, Aug. 4: Governor— L. P. Blackburn, 318; Walter Evans 12; C. W. Cook, 22. Representative to Legislature— R. W. Mc- Farland, 321; James Rudy, 306; E. S. Worthington, 18; E.O'Flynn, 16. Constable— 0. M. Rodman, 190; Peter Connelley, 82. 1880, Aug. 2 : Circuit Judge— J. Stuart, 36 ; L. P. Little, 401. Commonwealth Attorney — Joe Noe, 239; Jo. Haycraft,198. Circuit Clerk— F. F. Conway, 410. Sheriff— E. C. Davis, 401. Surveyor — E. Edwards, 399. Constable— Peter Conley, 399. Digitized by Microsoft® OUBDSVILLE«PEEOmOT. 569 1880, Nov. 2: President— W. S. Hancock, 403 ; J. A. Garfield, 30; J. B. "Weaver, 28. Representative to Legislature — J. A. Mc- Kenzie, 341-, 0. "W. Cook, 46; JolinFeland, 24. 1881, Aug. 1 : State Treasurer— J. "W. Tate, 185. Senator— J. A. Munday, 189. Eepresentative to Legislature — J, H. Rudy, 183; G. y. Triplett, 187. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 172. Coroner— J. B. Whelan, 95; P. W. Clark, 69. 1882, Aug. 7 : Judge of Superior Court— J. H. Bowen, 199. Appellate Clerk— T. J. Henry, 187 ; R. T. Jacob, 21. County Judge— H. W. Scott, 203. County Attorney —Martin Yewell 206. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 207. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 177; J. J. Christian, 35. Surveyor — E. Edwards, 205. Coroner — Geo. M. Hayden, 204. Assessor— G. A. Allgood, 205. For school tax, 30 ; against, 175. Justices — W. E. Rodman, 203]; Joseph Hall, 202. Constable— Peter Conley, 202. 1882, Nov. 7. Congressman— James F. Clay, 168; W. M.Fuqua, 37. Magistrates^ Courts, the fourth Tuesdays and Thursdays of March June, September and December. BIOGRAPHICAL. Andrew M. Mien, born in Brown County, Ohio, June 10, 1824, was a son of William Allen, who died when his son was six years old. He was then bound out for a while, but as soon as large enough to work he made his own way in the world. In 1851 he went to Rockport, Ind., and in 1852 came to Daviess County. In 1856 he settled in Delaware, where he has since resided. He car- ried on a farm across the Green River from Delaware till 1859, since which time, till February, 1882, he has been in the mercan- tile business. He was married in Rockport, Ind., in the fall of 1862, to Elizabeth Brown. To them were born eleven children, only four living — Nora, Mattie, Elizabeth and Viola. Three, Thomas, Emma and Luella, died after they had reached maturity. Mr. Allen owns a farm adjoining Delaware, and property in the town. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Aaron S. Allgood, born in Henderson County, Ky., March 16, 1824, was a son of Joseph R. Allgood, a native of Yirgiiiia, who came to Kentucky in an early day, and to this county in 1841. He was reared on a farm, and received but a limited education in Digitized by Microsoft® 570 HiSTOET OF daViess countf. the early subscription schools. He has lived in this county since 1841, with the exception of three months spent in Missouri in 1856. He was married Oct. 11, 1849, to Matilda Waltrip. They have had thirteen children, eleven living — Sarah E., John H., Joseph E., James W., William B., Emma F., Mary E., Robert Aaron C. and Matilda J. Mr. Allgood owns a farm of 235 acres. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. John JR. Bethel (deceased), son of Tilmon Y. Bethel, was born in Henderson County. Ky., Sept. 28, 1827. He was reared on a farm and educated in the early log-cabin schools. His parents came to this county in 1828. He was married July 9, 1849, to Jane Eidson, daughter of Pleasant Eidson. To them were born six children, five now living — Tilmon P., William A., James W., John C. and Charles W. Mr. Bethel was Deputy Clerk of Da- viess County three years; was Magistrate in Gurdsville three years. He was a Union man during the war, and had to keep his family in Owensboro one summer to protect them from the rebels. Tilmon P. Bethel was born in Curdsville, April 14, 1850. His father, John Bethel, deceased, was also a native of this precinct. His grandfather, Tilmon Bethel, came to Henderson County, Ky., with his father, James Bethel, when a boy. James Bethel plucked two gourds from a vine, on his wedding day, and inscribed the date (1787) on one of them. Tilmon P. Bethel now has them. He was educated in Curdsville, and now is engaged in the grocery business. He was married in 1872 to Nora, daughter of Robert Layson. They have had four children, only three now living — Clara, Allison and Tilmon. Mr. Bethel was Tillage Clerk of Curds- ville ten years, and in May, 1882, was elected Police Judge. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Aquilla P. Blandford, son of Joseph Blandford, was born in Washington County, Ky., Oct. 23, 1836. His grandfather, Aqnilla Blandford, was a native of Maryland, and settled in Kentucky in an early day. Mr. Blandford was reared on a farm and was edu- cated in the primitive log-cabin schools. He came to Daviess County in 1856 and settled in Curdsville Precinct. He was mar- ried Jan. 7, 1864, to Louise C, daughter of William Moseley, de- ceased. They are the parents of nine children — Mary L., William F., Vick T., Georgiana, Joseph, Betty, Mary L., Thomas A. One daughter, Mary M., died in February, 1879. Mr. Blandford has been School Trustee of District JS"o. 76 several terms. He is a Trustee of St. Alphonsus' Catholic Church. He owns 210 acres of Digitized by Microsoft® 0UKD8V1LLE PEEOINOT. 571 farming land. His mother still lives on the old homestead in "Wash- ington County, aged seventy-three years. John R. Blandford, born in Marion County, Ky., Aug. 4, 1834, is a son of John R. Blandford, a native of Bullitt County, Ky. His parents came to Daviess County in February, 1839. He has always lived on a farm, receiving but a limited education in the early snb- scrijjtion school. He was married Feb. 3, 1875, to Elnora Cashen, daughter of Michael Cashen. To them have been born three chil- dren— John R., More F., and Eulelia R. Mr. Blandford owns a farm of 100 acres. He is School Trustee oif 'lis township. He belongs to the Catholic Knights of America. Chapman Boswell^ son of Rev. C. C. Boswell, was born in Da- viess County, Ky., July 6, 1836, on the place where his fatlier still resides. He received his education in the subscription schools. He was married Dec. 1, 1864, to Eliza, daughter of Robert S. Hazle- wood (deceased), who came from Virginia to Henderson County, Ky., when thirteen "years old, and to Daviess County in 1856. To them have been born five children, four now living — Robert C, Claudius T., Chapman H. and William H. Rev. C. C. Boswell, son of Thomas Boswell, was born in Orange Ci>anty, N. C, Jan. 24, 180l8. Hisearly educational advantages were limited and he educated himself by studying at home. He came to Kentucky with his parents in 1818, settling in Henderson County. He came to Daviess County in 1832, and has made this his home ever since, with the exception of seven years spent in Uniontown, Ky., near where he was pastor of two Cumberland Presbyterian ohnrchee. He joined the Presbytery in 1833, and was ordained in 1836. He organized the Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian church in 1840 and has been its pastor till his health failed in 1878. He was married in 1832 to Margaret Glenn, sister of John Glenn. To them were born five children, three living — Chapman, William, and Mary, now Mrs. Brown. Two daughters are deceased — Leah (Mrs. Akers), who left a child, and Nancy C. (Mrs. Simons). Mrs. Boswell died in May, 1854. In August, 1855, he married Mre. Elizabeth Calhoon. She died in 1856, leaving one child — C. C, Jr. In 1857 Mr. Boswell married Mrs. Louisa Graham, and she died in 1876. Mr. Boswell resides on a farm, where he owns about 100 acres. John J. Brown, son of Edley Brown (deceased), was born in Spencer County, Ind., Sept. 7, 1829. His education was received in the subscription schools. He came to Daviess County in 1852, Digitized by Microsoft® 572 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTT. and in 1864 returned to Indiana, coming back in 1876. He learned the saddler's trade when a boy, in Kockport, Ind. Since 1866 he has been engaged in farming. He was married Sept. 2, 1856, to Mary, daughter of Rev. 0. C. Boswell. Seven children have been born to them, only five living — Americus C, William E., Ida G., Floyd 0. and Ada S. Mr. Brown is a member of the Sons of Temperance, I. O. O. F., and was one of the first Know-nothingites in this locality. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Gabriel Bryan (deceased), son of Barton Bryan, was born in Nelson OoTinty, Ky., Nov. 11, 1824. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the early subscription schools. He learned the carpenter's trade when a young man. In 1849 he came to Daviess County, and was in the mercantile business in Owensboro five years. He then worked at his trade, at farming, and in tobacco factories till 1872, when he moved to Curdsville Precinct and settled on the farm where his family now live, working at his trade in connection with farming. He was married Aug. 16, 1853, to Susan M., daughter of William Hayden. Of their eleven children but seven are living — Eugene, AnnaB., Camilla, Susan M., Eobert E. L., Generosa and Katie. Mr. Bryan died Feb. 8, 1874. Edward B. Oarrioo was born in Washington County, Ky., in December, 1815. His father, Levi Carrico, was a native of Mary- land, and settled in Washington County when a boy. Edward B. was reared on a farm, and received a limited education. He came to this county in March, 1854, and settled three miles southwest of Curdsville, where he still resides. He was married Jan. 11, 1848, to Martha Shircliff, daughter of Joseph ShircliflF, a native of Maryland and an early settler of Nelson County, Ky. Of their seven children, six are living — Susan F., Joseph E., Thomas L., Julia A., James E. and William L. Charles N. died in infancy. Mr. Carrico is a Trustee of St. Alphonsus' Catholic Church, of which his family are members. George ClarJc was born in Washington County, Ky., Sept. 18, 1808. He was educated at St. Mary's College, Marion County, Ky. He came to Daviess County in December, 1852, and has since made this his home. He was married July 15, 1834, to Del- phina Hayden. Nine children have been born to them, eight now living — Joseph A., Mary E., William T., James E., George H., Francis M., Martha A. and Charles L. A daughter, Euphresia, died at the age of twenty-one. Mr. Clark has been a life-long Cath- olic. For the past few years he has been blind. Digitized by Microsoft® CUBDSVILLE PEECINOT. 673 James Edward Clark, born in Marion County, Kj'., March 28, 1841, is a son of George Clark, and came to this county in the fall of 1852. He was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school ed- ucation. He was married Oct. 10, 1865, to Julia A., daughter of Charles Vowells. Eight children have been born to them — Joseph L., Cyrillus, Albert, Ernest, Mark, Albinus, Mary M. and Tiiomas. Mr. Clark owns a farm of 150 acres. He and family are members of the Baptist church. Franh Clayton, son of Joseph Clayton, was born in Nelson County, Ky., in January, 1835. He was reared ir his native county, and in 1852 came to Daviess County, where he has since made his home. He was married in January, 1865, to Mrs. Sally Barnett, daughter of James Hosman. They have six children — Susie, Mary T., James J., Erank, Stephen and Mattie. Mrs. Clayton had two children by her former marriage, both deceased. Mr. Clayton has always been a farmer, and now owns 155 acres in Curdsville Pre- cinct. The family are members of the Catholic church. John M. Clayton, son of Charles Clayton (deceased), was born in Nelson County, Ky., Sept. 1, 1830. He came to Daviess County with his parents in 1837. His father was a farmer and distiller, and died Oct. 8, 1871. John M. and his brother "William cleared the first land wh^p "West Louisville now stands. He was married April 19, 1856, to Ellen Payne. To them were born five children — Josephine, Charles W., Elizabeth, Mary F. and Ann S. Mrs. Clayton died June 12, 1880. Mr. Clayton afterward married Mrs. Josephine Bartley, daughter of James Hoskins. Mr. Clayton owns 100 acres of land where he resides, and three fifths of the old home- stead, near "West Louisville, in which there are eighty-eight acres. He and family are members of the Catholic church. JoJmT. Glements, son of William Clements, was born in Nelson County, Ky., June 7, 1827. He was reared on a farm, and edu- cated in St. Mary's College, in Marion County, Ky. He was married in November, 1852, to Elizabeth Hogan. They have eight children —Charles C, Susan H.,Mary C, Martha B., Elizabeth C, "William H., Thomas L. and Mary E. Mr. Clements and family are mem- bers of the Catholic church. He was in the Mexican war a year; was in the battle of Buena Vista. He came to Curdsville in 1856, and now owns 100 acres of good land. P. C. Conley, born in Nelson County, Ky., Nov. 12, 1846, is a eon of John and Mary Ann ("Whalen) Conley, both natives of Nel- son County. His mother died in 1873. They had a family of ten Digitized by Microsoft® 674 HISTOKT OF DAVIESS OOUNTT. children— Rosella, Matilda E., Benedict, John, P. C, James, Frank, Mary Ann, Martha, Bell. P. 0. Conlej came to Daviess Oonnty when nineteen years of age, and has since made this his home, with the exception of two years spent in Missouri. He has followed the occupation of a farmer the greater part of his life. Since 1878 he has been Constable of West Louisville. He was married Aug. 10, 1879, to Susan Drury, a native of Daviess County, born in Oc- tober, 1856. They had two children — Charles L., born in Septem- ber, 1880, and Anna B., June, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Conley are members of the Catholic church. St&phen C. Cooke, born in Giles County, Tenn., May 21, 1846> is a son of N. L. Cooke, a native of Frankfort, Ky., and came with his parents to Henry County, Ky., in 1847, and to Henderson County, in 1855. In 1861 he came to Daviess County, and worked for a tobacco firm a year. He then bought an interest in a tobacco manufactory and has continued in that business till the present time. In August, 1872, he established a general mercantile store, where he is also doing a good business. He was married Oct. 21, 1873, to Emma J., daughter of A. M. Allen. They were the par- ents of three children — Rudy, Norvorn and William. Mrs. Cook died April 5, 1879. Nov. 14, 1881, he married Mary, daughter of Thomas Brown (deceased). /They have one child — Lambert. John Crabtree (deceased), son of Jacob Crabtree, was born in Da- viess County Aug. 16, 1822. His life was spent in farming. He was married Dec 2, 1847, to Statira, daughter of Grove Howard. To them were born ten children, only nine living — Charles, Betsey, Jacob, Catharine, John, Josephine, Cordelia, Lucinda and Nancy. Mr. Crabtree died Feb. 23, 1881. The family reside on the old homestead. His son John is a very enterprising young man, and is now farming the home farm. He is a subscriber to Daviess County History. Prof. James F . Cummins was born in Henderson County, Ky. , Feb. 11, 1853. His father, Andrew J. Cummins (deceased), was a native of Tennessee. He was reared on a farm and educated in the schools of Curdsville. He commenced teaching in October, 1879; is now teaching his third term in Curdsville. He uses the most approved normal methods as far as is possible in a school with limited facilities. Francis K. Fulkerson, born in Daviess County, Ky., Aug. 22, 1841, is a son of Thomas Fulkerson, still a resident of this county, near Knoxville. His life has been spent on a farm, and his edu- Digitized by Microsoft® CURDSVILLE PRECINCT. 575 cation was obtained in the common schools. He enlisted in the late war in Company G, Twenty fifth Kentucky Infantry, D. S. A., afterward consolidated with the Seventeenth Regiment, and changed to Company K. He served three years, being in thirteen battles and numerous skirmishes. Some of the principal battles were: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Mi-sion Eidge, and Nashville. He was married April 17, 1866, to Sarah A., daughter of William P. Coomes. Eleven children were born to them, only eight now living — Sarah F., Mary E., "Virginia B., Albert V., William A., Evert A., Robert A, and Camilla T. Mr. Fulkerson came to Curdsville Precinct in 1866 and settled near West Louisville, where he owns a farm of sixty-eight acres He and family are members of the Catholic church. Zachariah Galloway, born in Da,viess Cuunty, June 4, 1827, is a son of Robert Calloway, deceased. His grandfather, John Gallo- way, was the first settler south of Panther Creek, coming here in 1797. He was reared on a farm and educated in the early log- cabin schools. He was married Aug. 18, 1847, to Virginia S. Ors- burn. To them were born twelve children, eleven living — William T., Elizabeth E., Silas C, .David W., Robert, Samuel, John, Ben- jamin, Wilson, Emma and Georgiana. Mr. Galloway owns a farm of 179 acres. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. David a. Glenn, M. D. (deceased), born in Daviess County, Ky., April 25, 1825, was a son of David Glenn, a native of Nel- son County, Ky., born in 1794, whose father, William Glenn, came to this county in 1797, and was the first settler of Curdsville Pre- cinct. Dr. Glenn was reared in this precinct and received his early education in the subscription schools. He was a very eminent physician, and at the time of his death, Sept. 25, 1881, had a large practice. He was married in 1847 to Henrietta Waltrip. Eight children were born to them, but five now living — Hiram, Alice, John, George and Inez. Dr. Glenn was a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Duke Glenn, son of William Glenn, was born in Daviess County, Jan. 23, 1831. He was reared on a farm, and educated himself by studying at home. He was married in 1861 to Martha, daughter of Andrew Waltrip (deceased). To them have been born seven children, six living — Commie, Roscoe, Leah, David, George and Florence. Mr. Glenn owns a fine farm of 275 acres, and is a well- to-do farmer. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Digitized by Microsoft® 576 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Hiram E. Olenn, sou of Dr. David E. Glenn (deceased), was born in this precinct, Oct. 28, 1848. He was educated in the Cum- berland University, Lebanon, Tenn. He was married Oct. 10, 1872, to Emma, daughter of William Mallory , who came to Daviess County about 1848. Five children have been born to them — Ru- fus, Nellie, Clarence, Lillian and Charles. Mr. Glenn resides on part of the old homestead farm, which contains 196 acres. Logan S. Glenn, son of David Glenn, was born in Daviess County, Ky., Aug. 24, 1832. He was educated in the early sub- scription schools. He was reared a farmer, and still lives on the old homestead. He was married in 1866 to Ruth A. Bell. They are the parents of seven children, only six living — David, Coram A., Edna, Harriet F., Henry and Bettie. A daughter, Katie, died at the age of two years. John Olenn was born in Curdsville Precinct, May 4, 1815. His father, William Glenn, was also a native of Kentucky, and came to Curdsville with his parents in 1797. John Glenn was reared on a farm and received his education in the early log-cabin schools. He was married Oct. 27, 1843, to Sarah, daughter of Samuel Cal- hoon, deceased. They were the parents of thirteen children, only eight living — William, Henry, Delia, Samuel, Walker, Nancy, Leah and David. Mr. Glenn owns 300 acres of farming land. He has never been an office-seeker. Walker Olenn was born in Daviess Count}', Ky., Jan. 7, 1850. His father, John Glenn, was born in Shelby County, Ky., May 4, 1815, and came to Daviess County when nine years of age. His mother, Sarah (Calhoon) Glenn, was born in Jefferson County, Ky. Walker is the fourth of eight children. He was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools of this county. He was married Feb. 25, 1875, to Ruhamah C. Glenn, a native of Daviess County, born May 16, 1854. They have two children — Elliott, born Oct. 14, 1879, and Sallie E., born Sept. 8, 1881. Mr. Glenn is a member of the Presbyterian and his wife of the M. S. church. He is living and farming with his father, twelve miles southwest of Owensboro. Joseph Hall, born in Henderson County, Ky., Sept. 2, 1829, is a son of William Hall, a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Henderson County. They came to this county in 1845, where they have since resided. Joseph Hall owns 146 acres of good land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is serving his second term as Justice of the Peace of this county. He belongs Digitized by Microsoft® CURDSVILLE PRECINCT. 577 to the Masonic fraternity. Oct. 12, 1854, lie married Joanna daughter of John Waltrip, an old settler of this county. To them have been born ten children, nine now living — William H. Mil- lard F., Benjamin F., Eugenia F., Mary E., Alberta, Eh'zabeth Robert L. and Nellie. Mr. Hall is a member of the Christian church. liichard Hall, horn in Henderson County, Ky., Oct. 26, 1835 is a son of William Hall, a native of Virginia, who brought his fiuuily to this county in 1848, where they have since resided, liiehard was married April 1, 1862, to Mary J., daughter of Thomas Ranson, deceased. To them have been born eight childi'en Anna Nora, Hannah J., Thomas E., Katie, William L., Bettie and Tlieodore (deceased). Mr. Hall owns a good farm of 147 acres. He is a member of the Christian church. Thomas U. Harl, son of Thomas L. Harl, was born in Owens- boro, Ky., Sept. 1, 1854. When twelve years of age his parents moved on the farm, two miles southeast of West Louisville where thoy still reside. He was married Feb. 12, 1878, to Eliza A. dHUghter of Mathew Alvey. Three children have been born to them — Mary E., James V. and Thomas L. Mr. and Mrs. Harl are members of the Catholic church. He owns a farm of 156 acres. Thomas L. Harl, son of Hypocratus Harl, was born Oct. 22 1824, in Hardin County, Ky. He was reared on a farm and re- ceived a common-school education. He came to Daviess County in 1850. The first eighteen years he lived in Owensboro, working at the carpenter's trade. He then moved to his farm, near West Louisville, where he has 100 acres of good land. He was married X(jv. 15, 1850, to Eliza, daughter of Francis D. Blandford. Ten children were born to them — Frances H., Thomas H., Sarah James B., John W., Ella, Emma (deceased), Edward, Charles, and Paul. His family are all members of the Catholic church. Robert A. Harralson, ferryman, Delaware, son of Colonel S. C. Harralson, was born in this precinct, Dec. 24, 1830. He was edu- cated in the early log-cabin schools. He was in the mercantile business here several years. He was Postmaster of Delaware from 181)7 to 1872. In December, 1876, he moved to the opposite side of Green River from Delaware, where he now resides. He was in Spottsville, Henderson County, two years, in the employ of T. Siiiver & Bro. He was married Jan. 18, 1870, to Fredonia Brown. 37 Digitized by Microsoft® 578 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. To them have been born three children, only two now living — Eugene and Ingram. Charles Leo Hayden (deceased), born in Marion County, Ky., Oct. 9, 1834, was a son of "William Hayden, who was born in 1785, and came with his family to Daviess County in 1835. He was reared on a farm, and as the advantages of a school education were limited he was taught at home by his father, who was well edu- cated. He was married Nov. 17, 1858, to Mary M., daugliter of Richard R. Coomes, a resident of this county. Eight children have been born to them, only six living — Julia J., William R., R. Arthur, Eva R., Hilery R. and Edward G. Mary H. died in 1869, aged eleven, and Albert L. in 1879, aged seven years. Mr. Hayden died Feb. 11, 1879. He was a member of the Catholic church, as are all his family. Henry N. Hayden (deceased), born in Marion County, Ky., July 13, 1833, was a son of William Hayden, a native of the same county. He came to Daviess County in 1852, residing here till his death, engaged in farming. He was married Nov. 27, 1855, to Ellen C.„ daughter of Wm. P. Ballard, and a native of Marion County, born May 14, 1838. Eight children were born to them, six living — Alice A., William P., Joseph S., Martha J., James A. and Thomas H. Mr. Hayden was a member of the Catholic church. He was a cripple the last seven years of his life, caused by falling from the roof of his barn. He died Sept. 4, 1881. James 8. Hayden, born in Nelson County, Ky., Aug. 23, 1836, is a son of Joseph Hayden (deceased), a native of Washington County. He came to this county in 1852. He enlisted in Com- pany K, Fourth Kentucky Infantry. He was in many of the prin- cipal battles and never lost a day's service while in the army. He was married Jan. 28, 1868, to Mary D., daughter of Urban Hayden. Eight children have been born to them, only six living — Clarence E., Richard I., Treasie M., Robert, Claude and Mary A. Mr. Hayden owns a farm of 103^ acres. He belongs to the Catholic church and Total Abstinence Society. James F. Head, son of William Head (deceased), was born in Nelson County, Ky., Oct. 18, 1841. He was educated in St. Mary's College, and taught school about four years. He came to this county in 1867 and now owns 106 acres of fine farming land. He was married Jan. 23, 1878, to Mary D., daughter of John Head, and a native of Daviess County. They have two children, Emanuel and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Head are members of the Catholic church. Digitized by Microsoft® CUKDSVILLE PEECINCT. 579 John Head, son of William Head (deceased), was born in Nelson County, Ky., July 23, 1837. He was educated in St. Mary's Col- lege ; afterward taught school seven years, one year in St. Mary's and two years in this county, near Sorghotown. He came to Curds- ville in October, 1865 ; Nov. 27, 1867, he married Mary M., daughter of Henry Bell (deceased). Of their four children only two are living — Henry E. and William A. James H. and W. Malcolm are deceased. Mr. Head owns a farm of 124 acres. He and family are members of the Catholic church. Charles E. Hennig was born in Brandenburg, Prussia, and came to America in 1869. He landed in New York and went from there to Chicago, where he remained two months. Then went North to Michigan and Minnesota, and thence to California, Oregon, and the Southern States, and came backNorthto St. Louis, where he remained six months. Then made another trip, going North to St. Paul, South to New Orleans, and North again to Cincinnati, where he re- mained eighteen months; then went to Albany, N. Y., and re- mained six months ; then back to Cincinnati. In 1874 he came to Kentucky, locating first in Hunt County. In 1877 he came to Daviess County, and in 1880 bought a farm of 150 acres on Green River, in Curdsville Precinct, where he now lives. He was married in Cincinnati in 1873, to Mary Inglehart, a native of Germany, born Aug. 10, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Hennig are members of the Catholic church. Jacob Hill, born in Randolph County, Ya., April 29, 1814, is a son of John Hill (deceased), a native of Pennsylvania, who brought his family to Washington County, Ky. , in 1821, and resided there till his death, Oct. 7, 1878, aged ninety-two years. Jacob was reared on a farm in Washington County, and educated in the St. Rose and St. Mary's academies. He came to Daviess County in December, 1857, settling in Yanover Precinct. In 1862 he came to this precinct, where he still resides. He was married Oct. 4, 1836, to Harriet Bandford, daughter of Henry Bandford. Of their ten children but nine are living — Anna E., Maria L., John, Jo- sephine, Frances, Jane, Alice, Sallie and Nannie. One daughter, Eliza, and her husband, Sylvester Summers, were murdered by an Irishman in 1870. Mr. Hill has been Constable six years. He and family are members of the Catholic church. John E. Lambert was born in Henderson County, Ky., April 7, 1849. His father, John H. Lambert, was a native of Indiana, but was reared in Henderson County. John R. was educated in his Digitized by Microsoft® 580 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. native county and at Bethel College, Russell ville, Ky. In 1874 he went to Zion, Ky., where he carried on a store of general mer- chandise three years; then brought his stock to Delaware and continued in the mercantile business till 1880. Since JSlovember, 1880, he has been running the Delaware flour and saw mill. May 1, 1872, he married Emma F. Davis. Of their four children but two are living — Mattie and Sarah. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. James F, Linton, was born in Washington County, Ky., Jan. 1, 1839, and came to Daviess County in 1859. He was married Jan. 9, 1866, to Helen Able, a native of Marion County, Ky. They have seven children — James W., Martha E., Joseph, Ronymus, Mary D., Ivo, and Patrick. In August, 1861, Mr. Linton enlisted in the Confederate army and served four years. He was captured at Donelson and taken to Camp Douglas where he remained from Feb. 8 to Sept. 15, 1862, when he was exchanged and returned to his command. He was again captured at Vicksburg the following June, and made his escape, but was recaptured in August ami taken to Alton, 111., and kept a month, when he tunneled out and again escaped. He took a boat and went to St. Louis, and re- mained three weeks with friends. He then came to Owensboro, and joined another command and served eight months. He was wounded at Fort Donelson in the shoulder and hip; at Champion Hills he received two slight wounds in the thigh; received a flesh wound in the thigh at Baker's Creek; and in Crittenden County received a wound in the lower part of the arm, which extended to the shoulder, and from which he had twenty-six pieces of bone taken. Mr. Linton is a member of the Catholic church and St. Alphonsus Temperance Society. John A. Lyddane, son of Peter Lyddane, was born in Bardstown, Ky., April 7, 1848, and came to this county with his parents in December, 1856. He was reared on the farm where J. E. Thomj)- son now lives, in Sorghotown, and educated at St. Mary's College. He afterward taught school six winters, farming in the summer. He was married Feb. 11, 1873, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Smith, of Marion County, Ky. To them were born two children, one living— Nettie. Mrs. Lyddane died Aug. 2, 1875. Sept. 2(1, 1882. Mr. Lyddane married Nannie, daughter of Mrs. Mary Buck- ler, of Owensboro. Mr. Lyddane owns 202 acres of land in part- Digitized by Microsoft® CUEDSVILLE PRECINCT. 581 nership with his brother, Joseph J. Ho is a member of the Catholic church. Alfred McCain, son of John McCain, was born in Caldwell County, Ky., Feb. 16, 1820, but removed to Henderson County with his parents when an infant, where he was reared and educated. In 1842 he came to Curdsville with his parents, and still resides on part of the old homestead. He was married in 1859 to Mrs. Har- riet W. Cummings, daughter of Frank Johnson. Of their four chil- dren but one is living — John H. Mrs. McCain had three children by her former marriage, only two now living — ^llobert and James F. Cummings. Henry H. McCain was born in Curdsville, Ky., April 27, 1847. He received a common-school education. He has always lived on the old homestead farm where his father settled in 1842. He enlisted in the late war in Company H, Seventeenth Kentucky In- fantry, and was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Murfrees- boro, Corinth, Chattanooga, Resaca and many others. He was married Jan. 10, 1867, to Susan C, daughter of Hiram McDonald, deceased. They are the parents of six children, five living — John H., Cora B., Mary I., Daniel A. and Charlie Garfield. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and Baptist church. His father, John D. McCain, was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., July 24, 1800, and was a son of John McCain, who came from Ireland when a small boy. He went to Tennessee when small, and when a young man came to Kentucky. He married Alsie McDjwell. They were the parents of eleven children, three boys and three girls now living. He died July 5, 1876. John JV. MoCiirty Avas born at his present residence in Curds- ville Precinct, Feb. 23, JS.'>4, and was a son of John M. McCarty (deceased), an earl}' settler of Daviess County. He received a common-school education. In February, 1S77, he married Mary A. Byrns. Tlicy are the ])arents of tour children, only two living — Mary and INlaggie L. Mr. McC'arty is School Trustee for Dis- trict No. 75. and has been I^jad Siir\-eyor two years. He owns 125 acres iif good land. Mr. and Mrs. McOarty are members of the Catholic church. Bunhtcr W. McFarhmd, born in Daviess County, Ky., March 6, 1820, is a son of James McFarlund (deceased;, of Xortli Carolina, who came to this county in an eai-ly day, when only a boy. Mr. McFarland was reared on a farm, and educated in the early sub- scription schools. He was married Dec. 24, 1840, to Martha Cal- Digitized by Microsoft® 582 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. boon. They were the parents of nine children, only five living — William, Samuel, James, Martha and John. His wife died in 1865. In 1866 he married Mrs. Mildred C. Thompson, daughter of John Kicks. They have five children — George C, Mggee, Harry, Pauline and Sallie. Mr. McFarland owns a farm of 174 acres, which is being carried on by his son William. He has been buying tobacco in Curdsville for the past two years, and since August, 1881, has bad a livery stable. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Robert A. Merimee, born in Nelson County, Ky., Oct. 18, 1842, is a son of Thomas Merimee, a native of Jefferson County, Ky. He came to Daviess County iu 1866, having visited this county sev- eral years previous. He owns 110 acres, and is engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising. He was married July 22, 1867, to Mattie Grifiin. To them have been born seven children, only six living — Victor, William, Kobert, Eddie, Joseph and Paul. The family are members of the Catholic church. George W. Morgan, born in Curdsville Precinct, Ky., Jan. 6, 1845, is a son of George W. Morgan, a native of Ohio County, Ky. He was reared on a farm, and educated at Ceeilian College, Har- din County, Ky. He was married April 11, 1871, to Amanda, daughter of Pius Grant, and a native of Washington County, Ky. Two children have been born to them, only one living — George Elmer, a bright, intelligent boy. Mr. Morgan has a good farm of sixty acres, and is an industrious and useful citizen. They are members of the Catholic church. Dabney T. Osborne, born in Halifax County, Ya., Nov. 24, 1824, is a son of Thomas Osborne, a native of South Carolina, who was born during the Kevolution. His grandparents had to flee from the Tories, his grandmother having her arm nearly cut off in three places. His grandfather was an Englishman and owned three ships that were captured by the British. He afterward owned a third of Eichmond, Ya. He was in the battle of Guilford Court- House, Lexington, Cowpens, and many others, under Washington. He died soon after the close of the war. Dabney T. Osborne came to Daviess County in 1851. He owns 135 acres of good land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is considered one of the best marksmen in the county, having killed about 1,000 deer, and a large number of turkeys, etc. He is a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church. John W. Reynolds, of Reynolds Bros., druggists, Curdsville, Digitized by Microsoft® crEDSYir.LF PRECi-^rT. 583 was born in Vanover Precinct, Daviess Co., Ky., Nov. 12, 1856. Hit- father, Ji'«''nn J. Reynolds, now a resident of Vanover Pre- cinct, is a native of Lincoln County, Ky. lie was reared ona farm and !o>"e'^-f?>_^. a common-school education. Y'c- was eEfrao-ed '■n tbt- t." f^ mannt:',ctiire of bri'-k a short time in 187!>, and then became one of t'oM pre.-.prit tirni of Eeynoldf 1^-.l- T"' keep a full lineof drugs aT>d ?i^.'^^.':'nes. Thomas J. Reynolds was born in Daviess Count}', Ky., Dec. 12, 1848. His father, Joshua J. Reynolds, is also a native of Ken- tucky. He was educated in the common cchools of this county. He resided on a fnrm till 1878, when he came to Curdsville, where he has since resided. The first two years he worked at brick- making; then, in 1::^S0, in company with his brother, John "W. Reynolds, opened a drug store, which they still own. He was elected Marshal of Curdsville in the spring of 1882. He was mar- ried Jan. 31, 1876, to Elma Lashbrook, daughter of Elbert Lash- brook. To them have been born three children, only two living — Leslie and Elbert. A daughter, Bertha, died in the fall of 1880, aged two years. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Methodist cl lurch. John E. Rodman was born in Shelby County, Ky., Oct. 1, 1809. His father, Hugh Rodman, was born in 1788 in Louisville, Ky., before any village was there. In 1816 his parents moved to Du- bois Co'jrtv. Ind., and remained there three year?, when they reuK'ved to "Washington County. Tnd. "'t^^iien John H. was sc-r-^n- +^e'; tie 'Tent to Louisville, Ky., to learn the carpenter's trade. In February, i'v^9. he sasr General Jn.-i:--, -i i. on his way to "i"^'«sliington to be inaugurated; in 1840 saw General Harrison. He was married in the fall of 1S36 to Mary A. lire' n. They' are the --;f';r of C:i^ e ■ children, only eight .living — William E., Hash D., Richard M., .\Inry M., John J., Charles M., Hilarf D. and James S. /. son, Thon.Tas Y., died Sept. 10, 1878, aged forty- ohe. years, and left a wife and three children. A daughter, Eliza- beth B., was burned to dt-ith in 18(13. at the age of three years. Marv M joined the order of Loretto Sisters, .*' Marion County, in Septembel-. l-?'', and is MoH p,- Superior of a Iranch house oJ Loretta, in Edna, Knox Co., Mo. The fdmiiy are all members ot the Catholic church. Mr. Rodman owns 251 acres of fine farming land |n this precinct, Rn'hard M. Rodman, son of John H. RodiJian, was born in Marion County, Ky., April 7, 1S14. His parents moved to Cnrds- Digitized by Microsoft® 684: HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. ville the same year. He was educated in St. Mary's College. He was reared a farmer and still follows that occupation, owning fifty acres of good land. In the winter of 1867-'68 he clerked for Rod- man & Hayden, of Curdsville. He was married Jan. 12, 1869, to Alice E., daughter of J. A. Blincoe. To them have been born four children— Thomas B., Mary M., Louisa G. and Elizabeth M. Mr. Kodman has been Justice of the Peace six years, and Bridge and Road Commissioner several years. William E. Rodman, son of John H. Rodman, was born in Orange County, Ind., Aug. 4, 1839. His parents moved to Ma- rion County, Ky., in 1840, and to this county in 1844. He was married Jan. 13, 1863, to Maria L. Hill. To them have been born six children, only five now living — Eugene I., Magnus A., John E., Elizabeth B. and Mary A. Mr. Rodman is Justice of the Peace for Curdsville Precinct. He and family are members of the Catholic church and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of America. He owns 116 acres of fine farming land. Henry Schweikarth, was born in Germany, Jan. 1, 1847, and was a son of Jacob Schweikarth, who came with his family to America and settled in Vanderberg County, Ind., in 1850. He attended Evansville Commercial College, and was employed by J. J. Mar- lett in Evans ville a few years; and also by Lindley Bros. He came to Curdsville in the spring of 1870, and clerked for Eman- uel Fisher four years, when he returned to Evansville and I'emained till 1876. He then came back to Curdsville and opened a grocery and provision store. In 1880 he added dry goods, clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes, and now has a first-class general store; capital stock $5,000 to $8,000, doing an annual business of $20,- 000. He was married April 13, 1873, to Sallie C, daughter of Joseph "Welden. They have four children — Hattie, Joseph J., Blanche M. and Lottie. James M. Sims, son of John R. Sims, was born in Meade County, Ky., Aug. 31, 1839. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Breckinridge County, Ky., where his par- ents moved when he was small. He enlisted in the late war in Company G, Eighty-first Indiana United States Infantry, and served three years. He was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickainauga, Mission Ridge, Dal ton, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Tenn., Nashville and many others, being in about 300 battles and skirmishes. He was married Sept. 22, 1867, to Melissa J., daughter of Franklin A. Wayne. Five children Digitized by Microsoft® CUEDSVILLE PEECINCT. 585 have been born to them — Julia B., John F., Mary L., Emma R. and Joseph H. Mr. Sims came to this county in 1865 where he owns seventy acres of fine land. He is a staunch Republican. His family are all members of the Catholic church. William Simtns, born iu Marion County, Ky., Oct. 23, 1814, is a son of Rudolph Simms, a native of Maryland. William, being the eldest of six children, and his father not being strong, was obliged to work on the farm, and had very limited educational ad- vantages. He came to this county in 1839 and has since lived in Curdsville Precinct. He was' married Jan. £, 1839, to Eliza A., daughter of John R. Blandford, deceased. Eight children have been born to them, only three living — F. Marion, Elizabeth E. and William A. One daughter, Ann M., died Aug. 27, 1877, in her twenty-eighth year. She had been twice married and left two children. Mr. Simms is the oldest member of St. Alphonsus Cath- olic Church, having been a Catholic all his life. James E. Smith, born in Jetferson County, Ky., Nov. 2, 1843, is a son of Early and Elizabeth (Bates) Smith, natives of Madison County, Va., who came by wagon to Kentucky soon after they were married. His father was a large contractor for furnishing wood to the Louisville manufactories, a few years, and then followed farm - ing and helped build turnpikes and otherwise improve the country. He was president of the Pond Draining Company many years, and also of Cane Run Pike several years. He was born April 25, 1804, and married May 26, 1826. He was the father of two boys and six girls. He died April 17, 1879. He gave each child $3, 300, and at his death left them each $7,200, He was a member of the Baptist church. James E. was married Feb. 22, 1870 , to Cath- erine L. Berry. They have five children — Thomas E., Anna L., William M., Mary N^., and Charles P. He came to this country in 1869. He owns a farm of 200 acres. He is School Trustee ot this precinct. He and family are members of the Catholic church. W. T. Smith, farmer, was born in Daviess County, Ky. , March 26,1849. He was reared on a farm in this county, and has fol- lowed that occupation the most of his life. He owns twenty-two acres of fine land, valued at $40 per acre. He was married March 7, 1872, to Clay Pitt, daughter of Joseph R. Pitt, and a native of Daviess County, born June 25, 1850. They have five children — Martin R., born Feb. 6, 1874; Catherine F., Oct. 22, 1876; Mary Ann, March 25, 1878 ; William J., Oct. 10, 1880 ; Thomas, Aug. 7, 1882. Mr. Smith is a member of .Lodge No. 126, A. F. & A. M. Digitized by Microsoft® 586 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. R. Waller Taylor was born in Tallahassee, Fla., March 22, 1839. His father, ColonelJohn Stokes Taylor, was one of Zach. Tay- lor's aids during the Seminole war, and afterward a professor in Centre College, Danville, Ky., and was also a large cotton planter. He weighed 345 pounds, and died in 1845 ; B. "Waller was educated in Centre College. During the late war he was Assistant Quarter- master in the Southern army, and was wounded at Chickamauga. He came to Henderson County, Ky., with his parents when six- teen years old. He sold goods there several years ; traveled for John Shillito & Co., of Cincinnati, four years. In the spring of 1876 he came to Delaware, where he now has a fine store of gen- eral merchandise, and does an annual business of $20,000. Mr. Taylor exposed publicly in the New York Sun the fraud practiced on the people by the patents that were for the use of steamboats. Charles F . Thompson, son of Leo Thompson (deceased), was born in Nelson County, Ky., Jan. 4, 1840. His parents came to this county in March, 1840. He was reared on a farm, and his educational advantages were limited, he having to walk four or five miles to attend a subscription school. He was married in April, 1869, to Mary E., daughter of Bennet Drury. Of the seven children born to them but five are living — Leo, George B., William M., Katie B., and Ellen N. Mr. Thompson enlisted in the late war in Company G, Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry., U. S. A., and served three years. The regiment was consolidated with the Seventeenth Kentucky and he placed in Company K. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shilob, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, and several others, being in thirteen battles and scores of skirmishes. He and family are members of the Catholic church. Jerome A. Thompson (deceased), son of Edward Thompson, was born in Washington County, Ky., June 12, 1825. He received a limited education in the early subscription school, and resided the most of his life on a farm. He was married in October, 1851, to Mary J. Carrico. She died Feb. S, 1855, leaving two children — Isabella and Frank. April 1, 1856, he married Mar}', daughter of John Wafren. She was born in Marion County, Ky. To them were born nine children, eight living — Joseph, Florence, Ivor, Eddie and Edgar (twins), Eugene, Robert and Ambrose. One son, Richard, died in August, 1882, aged twenty-five years. Mr. Thompson died Jan. 24, 1882. He was a life-long member of the Catholic church. Digitized by Microsoft® OITEDSVILLE PREOINOT. 587 Leo Thompson (deceased), son of Charles Thompson, was born in Nelson County, Ky., Dec. 17, 1818. He was educated in St. Mary's College. He came to this county in 1840, and lived near Owensboro till 1854, when he moved to Onrdsville Precinct, where he died May 26, 1873. He was married in 1838, to Priscilla, daughter of John Johnson. Eleven children were born to them, but two now living — Charles and Benjamin H. A son, Joseph T., died at the age of thirty-one years, and William M. died, aged fifteen years. Emily J. died at the age of eighteen. He was a mem- ber of the Catholic church, as are also his family. His son, EenjaminH.,was born Sept. 1, 1857, in this precinct. He was edu- cated at Gethsemane College, Nelson County, Ky., and Cecilian College, Hardin County, Ky. He is a farmer, and resides on the old homestead, William R. Thompson, son of George W- Thompson, was born in Nelson County, Ky., Feb. 8, 1844. His father was a native of Nelson County, and came with his parents to Daviess County when a small boy and settled on the island at Owensboro; remained there three years, and returned to Nelson County, where he re- sided nntil 1851, when he again came to this county. In 1860 he came to this precinct, where he died Aug. 17, 1861. William R. was educated at St. Mary's Academy, and Cecilian College, Ky. He was married Feb. 28, 1870, to Mary P., daughter of William E. Riney. To them were born five children — Nellie, Lloyd, Philip C, William R. and Harriet F. Mrs. Thompson died April 27, 1881. He owns 170 acres of good farming land. He is a mem- ber of the Catholic church. CharlesW. Yowels, born in Daviess County, Ky., Jan. 27, 1838, is a son of Charles Yowels, a native of Nelson County, who came to this county in an early day, and is now a resident of Upper Town Precinct. He was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. He was married Jan. 16, 1868, to Mattie Goodrun; Seven children have been born to them — Roxie, Joseph L., M. Fonda, Georgia, Rosa, Maud and Charles, Mr. Yowels owns a farm of about seventy-five acres. Joseph B. Wall, bom in Daviess County, Ky., March 22, 1821, is a son of Robert Wall. His education was received in the log- cabin schools. He was married in 1845 to Julia Waltrip, daughter of John Waltrip. To them were born six children, three living —John H., Rachel and Betsey. Mr. Wall is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Pleasant Hill. He owns fifty acres of land east of Delaware. Digitized by Microsoft® 58S HISTOBY or DAVIESS COUNTY. Q. RufiLS Waltrip, son of Andrew Waltrip, was born in Da- viess County, Ky., Aug. 20, ISiS. His father was a native of Breckinridge County, Kv., and caine to this county when a boy. He married Mary E. Wright. Eight children were born to tliem, but tliree now living — Martlia A. (Mrs. Glenn), David A. and G. Kufus. His wife died and lie married Lucy Glenn. Mrs. "Wal- trip died Aug. 8, 185S, leaving one daughter — Leali, now Mrs. Johnson. G. Ruf'us Waltrip was reared on a farm and educated at Georgetown College, Ivy. He was married in February, 1MJ9, to Delia, daughter of John Glenn. Four children liave been boi-n to them, but two are now living — Edgar and Sallie E. Mr. Wal- trip was Deputy Sheriff of this count}' six years. He is a member of the Cumberland Presb) terian church. He owns a fine farm of 142^ acres. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. John Waltrip, born in Barren County, Ky., March 4, 1807, was a son of Joseph Waltrip, a native of Virginia, but an early resi- dent of Barren County. In the fall of 1819 his parents came to Daviess County, and he has since made tliis his home. He was married in November, 1827, to Elizabeth Downs. To them were born twelve children, ten now living — Julia A., Henrietta, Ma- tilda, Joanna, Pryor, Emily, Thomas, Martha, Elizabeth and Laura. Mrs. Waltrip died in April, 1869, and November, 1869, he married Mrs. Eliza J. Faith. She had eight children, seven living — Barrister W., Joseph T., William, Alex., Martha, David, Jennie. One son, Robert, died in Arkansas, aged thirty-one years. Mr. Waltrip has 110 children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren, the largest family record iii the count}'. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. John 0. Warren, born in Marion County, Ky., May 8, 1834, is a son of John Warren, a native of Washington County, Ky., and a grandson of John AVarren, who came from Maryland to Kentucky in an early da}'. He is a descendant of the Lord Balti- more Catholics, who settled Maryland. He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He was married July 6, 1857, to Annie, daughter of Pius Carrico. Of their nine chil- dren, only seven are living — Mary J., Martin, Catharine, William, Mizella, Marion and T. Edgar. He came to this county in 1866. He owns 125 acx his county and forty-two in Marion County. He is a member of the Catholic church. Digitized by Microsoft® CURDSVILLE PKECINOT. 689 M. jN. Wayne was bom in Boyle County, Ky., Oct. 26, 1845. In 1864 he moved to La Rue County, and lived there till 1879, when he came to Daviess County, where he is carrying on the farm of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Kate McKentrie, near West Louis- ville. He owns 380 acres of land in La Eue County. He was married July 4, 1876, to Alice Eodman, a native of La Rue County, born March 4, 1858. They have two children*^George M., born April 12, 1880, and Anna L., born April 1, 1882. James M. Welden, son of Joseph Welder, was born in Hender- son County, Ky!, Feb. 14, 1853. He came to Curdsville with his parents in 1862, where he has since resided. Since 1877 he has been running a portable steam saw-mill near Cnrdsville. He has also been employed by the county to build several bridges. He was married May 5, 1875, to Maggie T., daughter of Thomas Mat- tingly. They have three children--01arence E., Edna L., and Claud M. Mrs.Welden is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Welden's father, Joseph Welden, was born in Henderson County, Ky., Feb. 27, 1819. His father, Thomas* Welden, was a native of Virginia, but was reared in North Carolina, and came to Ken- tucky in an early day. Mr. Welden had very limited educational advantages. He was a farmer the early part of his life, but since corning to Curdsville has been in the general grocery business. In 1854 he built a steam saw-mill on Panther Creek, in company with Geo. M. Priest, now of Evansville, Ind., but sold it in 1855. He was married in 1845 to Harriet Willingham. They are the parents of ten children, only five living — Sarah C, James M., Emma R., George W. and Maud. One daughter, Laura, died in 1864, aged sixteen years." William B. Wheeler, born in Nelson County, Ky., Oct. 6, 1844, is a son of Francis and Christina (Hagan) Wheeler, natives of Nel- son County, his father born in 1826 and his mother in 1829. His mother died of cholera in 1874; his father still lives in Nelson County. Mr. Wheeler was reared on a farm and received but a limited education, his time being spent in working on the farm. He lived in Nelson County till 1864, when he came to Daviess County. In 1868 he bought a farm of sixty acres near West Louis- ville. He afterward sold it and bought his present farm of sixty acres, where he now has one of the finest farms in Curdsville Pre- cinct. He was married Feb. 6, 1868, to B. J. Payne, a native of Daviess County, born Dec. 24, 1846. They have four children. Digitized by Microsoft® 590 HISTORY OF DA\TESS COUNTS'. Seeing the inconvenience of liaving so meager an edncation, Mr. Wheeler is giving his cliildren the best advantages the country affords, spending several hundred dollars yearly in educating them. In religious faith Mr. Wheeler is a Catholic. Saynuel Williams (deceased), born in Oldham County, Ky., Dec. 31, 1833, was a son of John Williams, a native of Washington County, Ky., and a resident of Oldham County. Mr. Williams came to Daviess County in the fall of 1859, and located on the land where the family now reside. He was married Oct. 23, 1856, to Mary E., daughter of Littleton W. Chandler. Nine children were born to them, eight living — John L., Mat-y L., George W., James T., Albert, Emily P., Henry, and Anna W. One son, Samuel, died at the age of eighteen years'. Mr. Williams was a member of the Christian church. He died Aug. 31, 1880. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XX. KNOTTSVILLE PRECINCT. In 1867 the following were fixed as the boundary lines of this pre- cinct : Beginning at Ohio County line, where same crosses North Panther Creek, near Charles Hamilton's; thence down said creek to the Litchfield road, thence with Litchfield and Owensboro road to the bridge over Caney Creek; thence up Caney Creek, so as to include James McKinney's; thence a line to Ben Allen's, including E. S. Jones's and William McKay's; thence to the Hardins burg road at Richard Jett's, excluding Jett's and J. W. Gabbert's ; then to the Pike's Peak school-house; thence with the 'oT3"" trace to David Clark's, including said Clark; thence to the nearest point of new road leading to C. Bell's; thence with said new road to the Barker road near C. Bell's; thence with the Barker road to W. Winkler, Jr's; thence to the White Oak ford on Blackford'^ thence with Blackford Creek and Hancock and Ohio County lines to the begin- ning. The precinct of Knottsville was named from the village, and the village was named for a Mr. Knott, who settled here. Formerly the name was spelled "Nottsville." EAELT SETTLEMENT. The first settlers in this precinct were families by the name of Smeathers, Duncan, Bell, Adams and Husk. Metcalfs and Wink- lers came afterward. Valentine Husk came from Virginia. He first settled at Yellow Banks, in 1796; then lived on the Ohio River at the mouth of Pup Creek. In 180i he moved with his family to a point on the Telvington and Knottsville road, three and a half miles north of the former place, where he began im- proving the farm afterward owned and oocupied by Henry John- son. He was the first settler in this part of the country. Soon afterward Benjamin, George, Charles and Raleigh Duncan, came from Nelson County and settled here. James Adams came about the same time, and settled at a point four miles northwest of Knottsville. Eli and Nathaniel Bell came from Maryland about the time of the Duncans. Eli settled on the farm afterward owned (591) Digitized by Microsoft® 592 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. by W. B. Head, Esq. Descendants of the Smeatherses and Bells are still living in the precinct. Ben Purcell came in 1824; R. N. Wilson, father of Robert T. Wilson, came to the county in 1820, from Nelson County, and settled on a farm four miles west of Knottsville. The Mays came from Nelson County about the same time, and settled on the Hardinsburir road west of Knottsville. The first school in this part of tlie county was taught by a man named Walker, who happened to be passing through the country; it was taught on Pup Creek, on land afterward owned by John Bell, and the old log cabin in which it was held went to decay more than fifty years ago. The first religious services were held by a Methodist preacher named Craig, about 1808, in the house of Benjamin Duncan. He organized a church in this house, and Benjamin Duncan and "Val- entine Husk were among the first members. One of the first priests was Father Derbin, who was born Jan. 1, 1800. Ho came here about 1822. fie lived iu Union County, and came here to preach once a month. On one occasion he lost his way, and was belated. He kept his course by the moss on the trees, which always grows on the north side. After dark the wolves were very troublesome, and came near taking him from liis horse, but the horse was very spirited, and fought the wolves ofil Father Derbin still lives in Riissellville, Logan County. The first brick-kiln was burned in 1825, by Thomas Purcell. a native of Virginia, who came to this county in the spring of that year. The first burying ground was started about 1806, on the land ot Charles Duncan, north of Pup Creek, on the Knottsville and Yel- viugton road, and the fir.st person buried was Raleigli Duncan, a son of Charles Duncan. This was the first death in the precinct. The first marriage in this precinct was " big Billy Bell " to his cousin, Betsey Bell, about the year 1810. They had two children. Mrs. Bell died, and Mr. Bell subsequently married twice. He raised a large family of children, and died in this precinct several years ago. In early days the pioneers made all their own sugar and syrup from maple-trees, which were very abundant on Pup Creek. A man named Thomas Montgomery made sugar so extensively that he paid for his entire farm from the sale of the sugar. From that time he was known as " Sugar Tom Montgomery," to distinguish him from another Tom Montgomery living in the precinct. The Digitized by Microsoft® KNOTTSVILLE PRECINCT. 593 early settlers paid their taxes with wolt and wildcat scalps. They would get a certificate from the magistrate for the amount of the scalps, which was the same as an order on the County Treasurer at the present day. And if the amount exceeded the taxes, tne Sheriflf, or Collector, paid the difference in specie. The women wore buckskin dresses every day, and had checked cotton for Sun- day. The children had neither boots nor shoes. Some would wrap rags around their feet, while others ran through the snow barefoot. "Uncle" Henry Hazel' tells that when he was a boy he would procure a piece of puncheon, or ]<)rge block of wood, place it before the fire until thoroughly warmed, then carry it to the wood-pile and stand on it while chopping wood. He would repeat this process as often as the block became cold, until his task for the day was completed. GEORGE HUSK. This venerable gentleman is the oldest native of Daviess County now living within its limits, and was born Oct. 31, 1800, at the mouth of Pup Creek. His father was Yalentine Husk, who came to this county in 1796. Hie maternal grandfather, William Hacker, came to the county about the same time, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He fought at Braddock's defeat, and was per- sonally acquainted with George "Washington. He was a member of the Virginia Blues, Washington's command. Mr. Husk mar- ried Charlotte G. Kelley, Aug. 2, 1828, and they had ten children. Three of them are living, viz.: Benjamin F., James, and Sarah, now Mrs. Fry,- Two daughters, Rosa J. and Pauline A., died after they were grown. Mrs. Husk died April 21, 1879. Mr. Husk has lived in three counties in this State without changing his residence, viz.: Hardin, Ohio and Daviess. He moved upon his present farm in 1835. He was a strong, active man in his youth, and few men of his time could jump thirty-six feet as easily as George did on one occasion. He was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church for several years, but for the past thirty-five years he has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. POSTOFFICES. Many years ago a postoflBce was established a mile and a half east of where Knottsville now stands, and was named Goreham. It was then the only postoffice in Daviess County, except the one 38 Digitized by Microsoft® 594 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. at Owensboro. A town was also staked off at this point by a Mr. Lang, but nothing more was done toward building it up. The voting place for the upper end of the county was located at the house of Mr. Gore, and remained here until it was established at Kiiottsville, about ISSi. The Goreharfl voting place was the only one in the county except at Owensboro. Gatewood Postoffice was established in the summer of 1882, at the store of P. D. Wilson, in the northeast corner of this precinct, with Dr. P. D. Wilson as Postmaster; but he has since resigned, and as no successor has been appointed the office will probably be discontinued. CHURCHES. Mount Zion Congregation of the Cumherland Presbyterian Church was constituted under the Logan Presbytery March 10, 1821, and was known by the name of Shiloh Congregation. The name was changed to Mount Zion under the Ohio Presbytery in September, 1839. The church is situated three miles northwest of Knottsville, and was organized by Rev. Hiram Hunter, assisted by Kev. Alexander Barnett. There were only eleven members, among whom were Adam Winkler and wife, John Winkler, Cath- arine Winkler, Eli Adams, Allen Medcalf and wife. The first services were held in 1821 by Rev. Alexander Barnett in the house of Adam Winkler, where the society was organized one year later. They worshiped in private houses six years. The first house of worship was a hewed log house, 18 x 30 feet, and was built in 1828, on land belonging to Adam Winkler, and no\y owned by fliram Winkler (except the lot belonging to the church). Several years afterward a larger house was built on the same ground. It was a frame structure, 24 x 36 feet. In 1875 this building was sold and a new frame church built, 31x44 feet, which is the present house of worship. There are now ninety communicants. Ser- vices each first Sabbath by Rev. Willis Smith, of Owensboro. Sun- day-scliool is sustained six months during the year, and there are two weekly praj'or-meetings. Bethlehinn Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1808 by Rev. William Craig, at the house of Benjamin Duncan, with but few members. Worship was held in Mr. Duncan's house about ten years, when a log house was built on the north side ot Pup Creek, which was, burned several years afterward while school was being taught in it. A frame house was then built, which was Digitized by Microsoft® KNOTTSVILLE PEECINCT. 595 also burned, and then the present commodious frame structure was built. Services are held every third Sabbath by Eev. B. F. Orr. Asitiry Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1846, by Eev. Nathaniel Lee, with about a dozen members, in the house of Samuel Barker. It was a small log cabin, and still stands just in the edge of Knottsville Precinct, on the Hancock County line, six miles northeast of Knottsville, on the Hawesville road. It is daubed with clay and has a stick chimney. It was built about 1828, and is now occupied by a family. Rev. Mr. Lee died in 1882, at a ripe old age, and was a regular minister until his death. He was Presiding Elder several years. The first services were held in private houses, and then for a time in the school-house. Their present house of worship, a frame structure 28 x 36 feet, was built in 1851, and is still used. It is also used as a school-house during the winter. The society went down during the late war, and was re-organized in 1873. There are now thirty-two members. Services are held once a month, on Sat- urday and Sunday, by Rev. W. K. Dempsey, Pastor. Prayer-meet- ing, once a week. Stephen Montgomery is the present Class leader. Pleasant Yalley Christian Church. — About the year 1852 there were a few persons of this denomination in the neighborhood, whose united efforts built a small frame home in which to worship. About the time of its completion the church was organized by Elder W. T. McCay, with about a dozen members, among whom were W. T. McCay, wife and mother, Lucinda Stone, B. S. Allen and wife, Elizabeth Hite, Elisha Yeager and wife, Thomas Har- bourt and wife. In 1863 the present coramodions structure was built. It is a frame building, 50 x 36 feet, and cost over $3,000. It is located three miles west of Knottsville, and a half a mile north of where the old one stood. Elder McCay was the first pastor of the church, and remained with them fifteen years. He is now in Georgia. The succeeding pastors are as follows: Elders Jefferson McCay (brother to the first pastor), Willis Cox, C. R. Marshall, William Nelson, David R. Pickens, Albert Conyers and Walter Stephens, the present' pastor. There are now about sixty communi- cants. Preaching once a month. Social meetings twice a month dnring the winter and each Lord's day in summer. The present Elders are B. S. Allen and Robert Ellis; Deacons, Thomas Mc- Quary and John Evans; Clerk, B. S. Allen. St. Lawrence Catholic Church. — Thefirst services of this church were held in 1822 by Father Able, in the house of William Jarbol. Digitized by Microsoft® 596 HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS COUUTT. At this time there were but three or four families in attendance. When the first house was built there were ten families in the con- gregation. There are at present over 200 families in attendance. The first house of worship was built in 1827 or '8, and the first services held in the new church were by Father Durbin, in 1828. The first stationed pastor was Kev. Father John Wathen, who came here in 1833. It was through the efforts of Mrs. Ezekiel Henning, Mrs. Alex. McDaniel, Mrs. Solomon McDaniel and per- haps one or two others that Father Durgia came here to preach. The land, 400 acres, was donated by William Griffith and Hub- bard Taylor, each giving 200 acres. They have since sold 200 acres. Si. Lawrence Cemetery. — The first person buried in St. Law- rence Catholic Cemetery was Mrs. Jennie Bowlds, in 1829 or '30. She had five daughters and two sons; four are. still living, viz. : Zachariah, now living in Kuottsville; Elizabeth, now widow Mc- Oarty, of Curdsville; Bertha, now Mother Superior of Bethlehem Female Academy, in Hardin County, and Susan, now Mrs, Corn- stock, of Owensboro. The second person buried in this cemetery was Mrs. Katie Aull, and the third was George Montgomery, a small boy. CAMP-MEETINGS. Camp-meetings were very frequent in early days, and amusing incidents often occurred. On one occasion a camp-meeting was being lield at the Bethlehem camp-grounds. The ministers were very bitter against the use of liquor on the ground, and one Rev. Palmer was inspecting the outskirts when he saw James Husk with a sack on his shoulder. He supposed, of course, that it was tilled with whisky jugs. Husk ran, and the minister pursued in hot haste. Husk dodged behind a tree, and as the reverend gen- tleman came plunging along he threw the sack and wrapped it around the minister's neck, which threw him down. Husk carried the sack in triumph to the minister's headquarters and emptied its contents on the ground, when, to the consternation of all, the "jngs" proved to be nothing but pumpkins, shaped something like jugs. Another incident occurred during the same meeting. Whisky was brought in jugs, and the ministers would seize and break them, by throwing them against trees. One minister threw a large jug against a tree, but it did not break, it only bounded like a ball ; where- upon a rowdy, named Smith, stepped up and said, " Here, brother, Digitized by Microsoft® KN0TT8VILLE PEECINCT. 597 let me break it." He took the jng, but instead of breaking it he marched through the crowd with his valuable trophy in triumph. On another occasion a very amusing incident occurred. A young exhorter became wearied with his labors, and when the exercises closed late at night, tired and exhausted he lay down upon the straw at the altar and was soon fast asleep. Some mischievous boys slipped up to him and pulled off his pants and hung them in a tree over his head. The poor fellow did not waken till after daylight, and was compelled to climb the tree to secure his pants. The situation was anything but enviable. George Husk was an eye-witness to this incident. SOCIETIES. Mon/ument Lodge, No. 483, A. F. c& A. M., at Gatewood, was organized in August, 1868, by Thomas Gore, assisted by Captain Samuel H. Jesse, with nine charter members. The first oflBcers were GriflBth Gatewood, W. M.; Hobert P. Lamar, S. W. ; Isaac W. Lambert, J. W.; Eobert M. Cox, Secretary; W. "W. Winkler, Treasurer. Mr. Gatewood has been W. M. ever since the organiza- tion of the society, except four years, and is the present incumbent. The other officers are: Davis A. Douthitt, S. W. ; I. W. Lambert, J. W.; John Suggs, Secretary, and William W. Winkler, Treas- urer. The society meets in the hall over Lambert's store in the northwest corner of the precinct. Marias Lodge of A. F. dc A. M. was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in 1855, with J. M. May, Master •, B. H. Har- rison, S. W.; Eobert Gore, J. W. This lodge was first organized at the house of E. L. Jones in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood, and has been very prosperous. Meetings are held in the Good Templars' Hall, near Mount Zion Church, with J. W. Simpson, W. M.; R. Hardin, S. W.; and A. M. Willhite, J. W.; G. B. Kowland, Secretary ; D. Lancaster, Treasurer. DELIGHT MILLS. The proprietors of these mills are W. S. Hfizel & Co., G. O Clements being the Co. They were first built by W. S. Hazel, in September, 1871, and named "Farmers' Delight Mills." There was a small corn-mill and a lath saw attached. In June, 1882, Mr. Hazel sold to John Stevens, then erected a larger mill on the same ground; ran two sets of stones and corn sheller. He began work Digitized by Microsoft® 598 HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. in December, 1882. The boiler is 22 feet by 44: inches; engine, thirty horse-power. Flour first-class in quality; uses the Eureka separating machine. All his machinery is of the latest and most approved kind. KNOTTSTILLE. This village was laid out in 1836 by William R. Grifiith and James Millay. The first house was built in the fall of 1827, by Leonard Knott, for whom the town was named. For the first few years it was called by various names, such as "Heart's Delight," " Grocery," the " Blacksmith Shop," etc. It was named Knotts- ville by Hon. Wm. R. Griffith, while he was in the Legislature. James Millay opened the first store. The first buildings were the house and blacksmith shop put up by Knott. B. J. McDaniel, William Higdon, Mrs. Mary Drury and L. T. Brown were other early settlers. The first school-house was built in 1854 or '5. It was a log cabin, but was replaced by a neat little frame building in 1857. The first school was taught by Powhattan Ellis. Knottsville is situated thirteen miles east of Owensboro, on the Hardinsburg road. There are two general stores, one drug store, one shoe shop, a blacksmith and wagon shop, two undertakers, one flouring mill, one saw and grist mill, and three tobacco factories. INDIAN HILL. This hill is six miles east of Knottsville, and is now in Hancock County. It is oblong in shape, one and one-half miles long, and fr.nu one-fourth to one-half mile in width. It is very high, and furnishes a beautiful view of the surrounding country and of Har- dinsburg, a distance of twenty-eight miles. There were formerly three ovoid or egg-shaped stone houses or huts on the hill, all in a straight line, about 250 yards equidistant; only two of them re. main. They are about twelve feet high, and have neither doors nor windows. One of them was torn away by George W. Bruner, who says that the foundation was deep in the earth. He dug down six or eight feet, but failed to reach the base, and abandoned furthci' search. The pioneers supposed that these strange specimens of architecture were built by Indians, and, finding inflications of the tomahawk in the trees there, named it the Indian Hill — a name which it will probably continue to bear until the end of time. "Uncle" Henry Hazel, who gives tiiis information, has been on the top of the huts and looked down the aperture in the center, and found the floors covered with weeds and grass. Digitized by Microsoft® KNOTTSVILLE PRECINCT. 699 Pup Creek. — This creek was so named from the fact that some hnnters, in a very early day, drowned several pups here. At the mouth of this creek are several Indian groves, two feet wide by three feet long, and lined with slate, the Indians being buried in a sitting postui'e. On some of them the slate has figures and curious letters engraved. Henry Hazel and George Roby, ot Knottsville, examined one which had been exposed by the washing away of the ,'-j\ J . W. Gabbert, ll:i. County Attorney — Y. T. Craw- ford, 130. For school tax, 48; against, 184. ISTu, Aug. 1: Appellate Judge — William Lindsay, 1.51; R. K. Williams, 5. Circuit Judge — M. F. Cofer, 158. County Judge — G. W. Triplett, 154; A. G. Botts, 13. County Clerk— T. Jones, 161; J. K. P. Moore, 10. County Attorney— W. T. Ellis, 166; S. H. Haynes, 9. Sheriff— W. H. Scott, 161: T. Maddux, 11. Sur- veyor—J. W. Sutherland, 161; A. W. Mayo, 9. Assessor— J. W. Onan, 156; R. J. Wootten, 14. Coroner— A. J. McAtee, 147'; W. J. Littell, 11. 1870, Nov. 8: Congressman— H. D. McHenry, 111; M. J. Rork, 13. 1871, May 6: Justices— R. R. Coomes, 122; A. J. Phiipot, US;' A. H. Clements, 122; J. B. Aud, 154; W. R. Higdon, 46. Con- stable—W. B. Head, 183; T. L. Gore, 73. 1871, Aug. 7: Governor— P. H. Leslie, 305; J. M- Harlan, 16. Representative to Legislature — C. Griifith, 34; S. H. Jesse, 326; F. H. Roberts, 15. 1872, Aug. 5: County Clp.rk— Jo. Thomas, 137; J. G. Mc Far- land, 145. 'sheriff- -W. H. Perkins, 200; David Webb, 8. 1872, iN'ov. 5: President— H. Greeley, 192; U. S. Grant, 36; Charles (J'Conor, 7. IS 73, May 3: Constable— W. B. Head, 8S; J. H. Clem- ents, 13. . 1873, Aug. 4: State Treasurer — J. W. Tate, loi. Senator — E. Hawes, 197; G. W. Swoope, 102; G. W. Jolly, 2S. Represen- tative to Legislature — Ben. Stont, 12; R. W. Mc Farland, 73; H. Mee:il!, 8; PL T. Aud, 164. 1874, Aug. 3: Appellate Clerk— T. 0. Jones, 284; J. B. Coch- ran, 22. Circuit Judge — L. P. Little, 193; J. Montgomery, 26; James Stuart, 'W. Commonwealth Attorney — E. H. Brown, 221; Jo. Haycraft, 120. Circuit i 'ier!- — F. F.iOonw.iy, 3l-1. County Judge— G. W. Tr',];- lott. 179; G. W. Jolly, 174. County Attorney— W. T. Ellis, 333. County Clerk— M. S.' Mattingly, .-:i-l, Shei iti— H. W. Scott, 3i!l. Cni-:::nrr— (t. W. Matliis, 1^9. Surveyor— Kobert Frey, 292. As sessor--W. T. Aull, 322. , l'-"74, Xov. 3: Congressman — J. Y. Brown,, 151; Geoi'ge Smith, 60. For license, 104; against, 95. Digitized by Microsoft® KNOT;rSVILLE PEEOINOT. 603 1875, May 1: Justices— J. B. And, 180; A. H. Clements, 190; W. B. Head, 76; A. J. Philpot, 112; L. C. Anderson, 136. Con- stable—T. E. Aull, 182; B. J. Hagan, 66; W. O. Spencer, 26; R. R. Coomes, 42. 1875, Aug. 2: Governor— J. B. McCreery, 248; J. M. Harlan, 321. Representative to Legislature — W. J. Taylor, 182; J. G. Ford, 137; A. J. Philpot, 131. Surveyor— 0. W. Gordon, 200. 1876, Aug. 7: Circuit Judge— G. W. Ray, 215; J. A. Murray, 152. Sheriff— J. H. Gates, 146; R. R. Coomes, 241. For road law, 9; against, 401. Constable— T. E. Aull, 268; W. O. Spencer, 96. 1876, Nov. 2 : President— S. J. Tilden, 384; R. B. Hayes, 25; •G. C. Smith, 1. Congressman — J. A. McKenzie, 314; J. B. Moore. 18. 1877, Aug. 6 : State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 170; I. H. Trabue, 33- Senator— C. Griffith, 180; Y. P. Stateler, 83. Representative to Legislature— C. R. Thorp, 205; A. Craycroft, 206. 1878, Aug. 5: Appellate Judge— T. H. Hines, 300. County Judge— H. "W". Scott, 214; Geo. W. Jolly, 230. County Attorney —John L. McFarland, 359. County Clerk— M.S. Mattingly, 392. Sheriff— Ed. C. Davis, 353; E. S. Worthington, 32. Asses- sor-Gideon AUgood, 380; C. W. Thomas, 11. Surveyor— 0. W. Oordon, 319. Coroner— J. W. Funk, 280. Justices— H. L. Mont ^ornery, 220; H. F. Coomes, 216 ;L. C. Anderson, 320; A. H. Clem- ents, 144. Constable— J. "W. Higdon, 214; Oliver Miller, 57; R. K. Trisler, 147. 1878, Nov. 5: Congressman — J. A. McKenzie, 66; J. "W". Feighan, 3; Francis M. English, 36. 1879, Aug. 4: Governor— L. P. Blackburn, 217; C. W. Cook, 27; W. Evans, 1. Representative to Legislature — R. W. McFar- land, 213: James Rudy, 208; E. S. Worthington, 31; E. O. Flynn, 27. Justices— H. T. Aud, 175; A. H. Clements, 56; J. D. Haze, 49. 1880, Aug. 2: Circuit Judge— Jones Stuart, 40; L. P. Little, 261. Commonwealth Attorney — Joe. Noe, 92; Joseph Haycraft, 234. CircuitClerk— F.F.Conway, 253. Sheriff— E. C. Davis, 265. Surveyor— E. Edwards, 210. Constable— J. W. Higdon, 236; S. N. Hagan, 79. 1880, Nov. 2: President— "W. S. Hancock, 258; J. A. Garfield, 22; J. B. Weaver, 12. Representative to Legislature— J. A. Mc- Kenzie, 134; John Feland, 16; C. W. Cook, 16. Digitized by Microsoft® 604 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS COUNTr. 1881, Aug. 1: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 497. Senator— J. A. MuTiday, 210. Representative to Legislature— J. H. Rudy, 204; Geo. V. Triplett, 190. For license, ',62; against, 213. Con- stable—R. H. Medealf, 190; Sol. Hagan, 113. Sheriff— A. B. Mil- ler, 71. Coroner— G. W. Mathis, 12; P. W. Clark, 2; E.J. Whelan, 29. 1882, Aug. 7: Judge of Superior Court— J. H. Bowden, 197. Appellate cTerk— Thos. J. Henry, 178; R. T. Jacob, 25. County Judge— H. W. I Scott, 215. County Attorney— Martin Yewell, 213. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 227. Sheriff— A. B. Mil- ler, 146; J. J. Christian, 49. Surveyor— E. Edwards, 209. Cor- oner—G. M. Hayden, 206. Assessor— G. A. AUgood, 254. For school tax, 16; against, 241. Justices— H. T. Aud, 220; W". B. Handley, 207. Constable— J. A. Carico, 240; T. Gordon, 8. 1882, Nov. 7: Congressman— James F. Clay, 107; W. M. Fu- qua, 4. Magistrates' Courts : For one Justice, the second Monday in March, June, September and December; for the other, the third Tuesday in these months. BIOGBAPHIOAL. Hem-y Ahle, born in Nelson County, Ky., Feb. 17, 1828, is a son of John Able, deceased, a native of Hardin County, Ky. His ancestors were from England and first settled in Maryland, and af- terward came to Kentucky. Mr. Able was reared on a farm and has always followed that occupation, having now 150 acres of well- improved land. He received his education in the early subscrip- tion schools of this vicinity. He came to Daviess County in 1849, and settled in Knottsville Precinct. Jan. 14, 1853, he was mar- ried to Margaret Carrico, a native of Washington County, Ky., but a life-long resident of this county, having been brought here by her parents when leSs than a year old. They have had fifteen children, twelve now living — Artemesia, Martha, John 0., Marion, William, Clarence, Annie, Ella, Everett, James L., Clara M. and an infant son. Mr. and Mrs. Able are members of the Catholic church. Hillary T. Aud, of the firm of J. B. And & Bro., merchants ot Knottsville, was born in Knottsville, Jan. 14, 1841, and is a son of Thomas C. Aud. Mr. And was brought up and educated in Knottsville, and in 1859 engaged in business here with his brother. He was married, in 1862, to Miss Victoria Jarboe, daughter of Digitized by Microsoft® KN0TT8VILLE PEECINCT. 605 Ignatius Jarboe, of this precinct. They have had eight children, of whom four are living — Guy G., Henry T., William E. and Mary J. Mr. Aud has been Postmaster for Knottsville since 1877, and Justice of the Peace since 1879. He is a worthy member of the Catholic church. Joseph B. Aud, of the firm of J. B. Aud & Brother, Knotts- ville, was born in Nelson County, Ky., Dec. 19, 1829, and is a son of Thomas C. Aud (deceased), also a native of Nelson County , who brought his family to Knottsville in 1838, where he died in March, 1853. Our subject was brought up in Knottsville, where he attended the common schools. He also attended St. Mary's College, in Marion County, for a time. For a short time he taught school, but in 1859 he and his brother, Hillary T. Aud, engaged in the mercantile business in Knottsville under the present name. They have been in the business ever since, and are consequently the oldest business firm in Daviess County. They carry a general stock of $5,000, doing an annual business of $17,000. Mr. Aud was Postmaster for Knottsville about five years, and Magistrate for eight years. In September, 1864, he married Miss Annie, daugh- ter of William Sansbury. She died in December, 1876; and he married, in September, 1878, Nannie Mattingly, daughter of George Mattingly, of Whitesville, this county. Benjamin T. Aull, farmer, Knottsville, was born in Nelson County, Ky., April 27, 1826, and is a son of Benjamin Aull, a native of Maryland, who came to Kentucky when a boy, and brought his family' to this county in the fall of 1826, where the subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and educated in the common or subscription schools. He was married Jan. 16, 1847, to Miss Joanna, daughter of James Carrico. They had twelve children, of whom but six are living — William, Thomas, Francis, Helena, Mar- shall and Anna. One daughter, Catherine, died in August, 1872, at the aore of eighteen years. Mr. Auli recently sold his farm in this precinct, and now owns a homestead of but twenty-nine acres, at Knottsville, where he lives rather retired. Mr. Aull is a worthy member of the Catholic church. Ignatius A. Aull, farmer, Knottsville Precinct, was born in this precinct, on Pup Creek, two miles northeast of Knottsville, Feb. 6 1S41, and is a son of Benjamin Aull (deceased), a native of Maryland, who came to Nelson County, Ky., in a very early day, and aftersvard to Daviess County. Our subject's mother's maiden name was Maria Drury. Mr. Aull was brought up on his father's Digitized by Microsoft® 6(1 6 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. farm, and received a limited education in a subscription school, taught in a log cabin, with split poles for seats, and a puncheon writing desk. He was married May 2, 1865, to Miss Mary Melissa Long, daughter of Ivichard Long. They have eight children — Mary J., Edward, Annie, Teresa, Ellis, Emma, Josephine and Barnhard. Mr. AuU is engaged in farming and stock-raising on his farm of 200 acre?, four miles east of Knottsville. On the 8th day of October, 1883, he purchased the general store of W. S. Hazel, in Knottsville, and the business is conducted by T. E. Aull, under firm name of I. A. Aull & Co. Mr. Aull is a member of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society. Jum&s AuU, horn in Nelson County, Ky.,June 24,1817, was a son of Benjamin Aull, a native of Maryland, and a descendant of the Lord Baltimore Catholics. His early education was received in the early log school-house, while residing on his father's farm. He came to Daviess County with his parents in 1827, and has since resided here with the exception of live years spent in Hancock County. He owns a farm of 121 acres six miles northeast of Knottsville. He was mar- ried in 1839 to Charlotte, daughter of Abx-aham McDaniel. Eleven children were born to them, nine now living — -William T., James A., John Z. T., George W., Charles E., Verlinda J., Elizabeth F., Martha E. and Margaret A. Mary V. and Victoria are deceased. Both left families. Mr. Anil's family are mem.bers of the Catholic church. He is a member of the Total Abstinence Society. Thomas E. Aull, merchant, Knottsville, was born in Knotts- ville Precinct, May 26, 1849, and is a son of Ben. T. Aull, of Knotts- ville. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, and received a common-school education ; he also attended for a time the select school of Prof. H. P. Hart, of Owensboro. He afterward taught shool nine months in Knottsville. In 1870 he went into the mercantile business in Knottsville with his brother, J. W. Aull, under the firm name of T. E. Aull & Bro. In 1872 our subject sold his interests to C. O. Clements, and ran the business for him for eighteen months. He was elected Constable for this precinct in 1874, and re-elected in 1876. Heresigned his office in 1878. From 187y to 1880 be was Deputy Sheriff for the upper end of the county under E. C. Davis, and from January, 1880, to Octoberof the same year he engaged in the grocery business and the manufacture of brick with Jett & Co., of Owensboro. He then sold and accepted the charge as chief salesman of Phillips Bros. & McAfee's grocery store until October, 1882, when he came to Knottsville, and took Digitized by Microsoft® KNOTTSVILLE PEECINCT. 607 charge of Ignatius A. Aull's large general store, having an inter- est in the business, which is conducted under the [firm name of I. A. Aull & Co. They carry a stock of from $3,500 to $4,000, con- sisting oi everything usually kept in a first-class general store, and are doing a good business, which is constantly increasing. Mr. Aull was married October, 1870, to Miss Mary Sansbury, daughter uf "William Sansbury (deceased). This union has been blessed with live children — C. Neva, William A., Joseph and Annie (twins), and Charles. Mr. Aull is a consistent Catholic, and was President of the Total Abstinence Society at St. Lawrence Church during the years 1875 and 1876; and in 1876 he was Vice-President of the Diocesan Union of Total Abstinence. Mr. Aull is an enterpris- ing business man, and bids fair for future success. Reiihen M. Barker, born in Daviess County, Ky. , Nov. 8, 1818, was a son of Samuel Barker, a native of Maryland, who came to Kentucky when a boy, first locating in Nelson County, and after- ward in Daviess County. The latter was a soldier in the war of 1812, and fought the Indians under General Hopkins. He died June 23, 1851. Eeuben N. was reared on a farm and attended the log-cabin subscription schools, having to walk from three and a lialf to five miles. He was married June 26, 1845, to Mary E. Chappell, daughter of James Chappell, an early settler of Owens- l)oro. He came to this county in. 1816, when there was not a brick chimney in Owensboro, and kept a hotel and grocery there. Mrs. Barker has a bedstead that her father made out of walnut sixty-four years ago. Their daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Hall, lives on a part of the old homestead. Mr. Barker's residence is just across the county line, in Hancock County. He is a member of the Methodist church. South. A brother, Samuel Barker, born in Nelson County, Ky., Dec. 7, 1808, was married in 1831, to Khoda Kallam. Of his eleven children but nine are living — James G., Catherine, Melissa, Kachel J., Mary A., Francis M., Nathaniel H. L., Martin K. and Louisa T. Jefferson L. Berry, late of Knottsville Precinct, was born in Madison County, Ya., Oct. 1, 1824, and came to Kentucky with liis father, Jesse Berry, when two years of age, and a few years later to Ddviess County. He was reared on a farm and educated ill the early subscription schools. He was married Dec. 24, 1867, to Artie May, daughter of James M. May, of this precinct. Four cliildren were born to them — May, James, Estill and JeflPerson. Mr. Berry owned 200 acres of good land five miles southeast of Digitized by Microsoft® 608 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Knottsville, and was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was a member ot the Baptist church and belonged to the Masonic fraternity. He died April 18, 1878. At one time Mr. Berry's postoffice address was Hancock County, his children attended school in Ohio County, and he resided in Daviess County. Benedict J. Bowlds^ farmer, one and one-half miles east of Knottsville, was born in this precinct, Jan. 26, 1847, and is a son of Thomas Bowlds (deceased), an early settler of this county. Mr. Bowlds was brought up on his father's farm and educated in the Knottsville school. On Jan. 12, 1869, he married Victoria R., daughter of Benedict J. Hagan. They have nine children — Sophia A., Mary M., Cora A., Eaphael H., Rosa L., Maud E., Clara J., Lorena A. and Arthur I. Mr. Bowlds and family are Catholics, and he is a member of the Total Abstinence Society. He owns fifty-eight acres of valuable land. James D. Bowlda, two miles southeast of Knottsville, farmer and stock-raiser, owning 150 acres of valuable land, was born in Knottsville Precinct, March 27, 1842, and is a son ot Thomas Bowlds (deceased), also a native of this precinct. Mr. Bowlds' grandfather, James Bowlds, was an early settler of Daviess County. Our subject has always been on a farm, and received his education in the common schools. He married Miss Sarah Hagan in 1861, the daughter of Bcajamin J. Hagan, of this precinct. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living^Benjamin, Ida, Ed- ward, Jessie, Guy, Lorena and Minnie. Mr. Bowlds is a member of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society, and at one time was ban- ner carrier in that society. He has held the oflSces of School Trustee and Road Overseer. Pius J. Bowlds, one and one-half miles northeast of Knotts- ville, was born in this precinct, April 6, 1827, and is a son of James Bowlds (deceased), a native of Nelson County, Ky., who came to this county in 1826. At the age of fourteen years his mother died, and the family was broken up. Pius learned the car- penter's trade, at which he has worked, for the most part, for the past twent;y-five years. He gave especial attention to bridge- building for some time, and was six years in the employ of the L. & N. R. R. Co., engaged in that work. He was married Jan. 31, 1876, to Miss Margaret Payne, daughter of Stephen Payne, of this precinct. They have had three children, two living — Thomas B. and Martha P. Mr. Bowlds served four years in the late war, in Company A, First Kentucky Cavalry, under General Wheeler. Digitized by Microsoft® KN0TT8VILLE PEEOINCT. 609 In the early part of his life, like many other boys, he was obliged to go barefoot. He was eight years old when he got his first pair of shoes, and he walked one and one-half miles through the snow in his bare feet to get them. R. H. Hazel made them for him for 25 cents. Mr. B. is a member of the Catholic church and the Ab- stinence Society. Zachariah Bowlds, born in Daviess County, Ky., May 9, 1825. was a son of John Bowlds, an early settler of this county. His mother died when he was eighteen months old, and his father then moved to Nelson County, where he died wher Zachariah was five years old. In the fall of 1839 he returned to this county and has since made this his home. He owns 100 acres of good land and is engaged in general farming, though he makes a specialty of tobacco. In 1851 he married Francis, daughter of Henry Wells. They have four children — John H., Mary S., Charles Z. and William H. The family are members of the Catholic church. John A. Castlen was born in Madison, Ind., Nov. 24, 1828, and is a son of John A. Castlen, a native of Virginia, who died in Mad- ison, Ind., of the cholera, in 1832. Our subject's mother was Eliz- abeth Leet, and a native also of Virginia. She brought her family to Oldham County, Ky., and located near Louisville in 1832. She now resides in this county, and is seventy-nine years old. Mr. Castlen was reared a farmer's boy, and received a common-school education. He came to Daviess County in 1856, and settled in Upper Town Precinct. In 1868 he went to Owensboro, and in company with a Mr. Guthrie built the Owensboro City Foundry, but in 1872 returned to his farm. When a young man Mr. Castlen worked for four years at the carpenter's trade. lie came to his present farm of 300 acres, four miles southwest of Knottsville, in 1875, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1856 to Miss Martha Carder, daughter of Madison Car- der. They have eight children— Ida Bell, William F., Elwood, John D., Eugene, Sallie, Katie and Claudie K. Mr. Castlen is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Methodist Episco])al church. A. Ilarvoy Clements, cabinet-maker and undertaker, Knottsville, was born in Spencer County, Ky., Oct. 1. LS20, and is a son of Will- iam Clements (deceased), a native of Maryland, and an early set- tler of Nelson County, Ky. Mr. Clements was left an orphan at the age of four year?, to rely upon his own resources. He was always of an energetic disposition, and early learned the black- "■id Digitized by Microsoft® 610 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. smith's trade, by working at it in winter time only — farming during tlie summer. He also etirly learned the use of carpenter's tools. He came to this county in 1S38, and soon engaged in the carpen- ter and cabinet-maker's trade. He married Eliza J. Drury in Sep- tember, 1.^42, who died four months later. He again married, this time to Malvina W. CoUett, by whom he has two children — Eichard 0. and Mary M. Mr. Clements was Constable a short time, and Justice of the Peace about twelve years. He is a member of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society. Charles 0. Clements, of the firm of W. S. Hazel & Co., Knotts- ville, was born in Clay County, Mo., Aug. 10, 1834, and is a son of Charles Clements (deceased). He was brought to this county by his parents in 1843. He worked on a farm until 1868, when he began to keep a hotel and a whisky and beer saloon; this he continued till 1S74, when he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1878 he sold his interest in the store, and since then has been engaged in buying tobacco. Ele was married March 25, 1856, to Appalonia Montgomery^ by whom he had ten children, nine living — Lucy A., Jane O., Henry A., Mary A., Robert F., Lucy E., Clara E., Lillie M. and Genevieve. Mr. Clements is a Catholic Knight. John H. Clements, farmer, one mile west of Knottsville, was born in Spencer County, Ky., July 31, 1828, and is a son of Charles O. Clements (deceased), a native of Fredericktown, Md., who came to Kentucky when a boy. Our subject came with his parents to this precinct in 1844. He was raised on a farm and educated in a subscription school. He farmed till twenty-four yenrs of age, when he engaged in general merchandising in Owensboro for two years. In 1854 he sold out and came to Knottsville and opened a general store, which he ran until 1862, when he sold to JKobernett. In 1872 he opened another store in Knottsville, which was burned eighteen months later. Since that time he has attended to farm- ing. He was married March 11, 1855, to Miss Harriet E., daughter of Henry "Wagoner (decease!). They have had six children born to t'lem, of whom five are living — Charles PL, Matilda A., John J., William B. and Ida xignes. Mr. Clements was Postmaster tor Knottsville for eight years. Mrs. Clements was born and reared in Spencer County, Ind., near Owensboro, and they were married in Owensboro. She was a Protestant, but embraced the Catholic faith a short time prior to their marriage. Mr. Clements and family arc all Catholics. Digitized by Microsoft® KNOrrSVILLE PKECINCT. 611 Hillary F. Coomes, farmer, stock-raiser and also tobacco mer- chant, Knottsville, was born in this precinct Feb. 20, 1844. He spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and was educated at St. Mary's College, in Marion County. He engaged in the mercan- tile business in Knottsville for two years, but for the past three years has been dealing in tobacco. He was married Oct. 9, 1866, to EUenora McDaniel, daughter of Benedict J. McDaniel. They had six children, five living — Marietta, Elizabeth H., Minnie R., Edwin L. and Fabien. Mr. Coomes is a Catholic Knight and a member of the Total Abstinence Society. Richard R. Coomes, father of the above, was born in Nelson County, Ky., April 1,1812, and is a son of Richard Coomes (deceased), who catne from North Carolina to this State as early as 1797, while the Indians were yet iiere. He was one of the first settlers of Bardstown. Mr. Coomes was educated at St. Mary's College. In April, 1841, he came to this county, and was the first County Surveyor of Daviess County, elected under the new Constitution, in 1850. He established the entire boundary line of McLean County, having been appointed to that work by the Legislature. Jfiicoh Grouse (deceased), late of Knottsville, was born- near Frankfort, Germany, Sept. 4, 1832. His parents were Gabriel and Mary (Buhard) Crouse, also natives of Germany, who emi- grated to Pennsylvania in 1833. In 1838 they removed to Ports- mouth, Ohio. At the age of eighteen Mr. Crouse began to work on railroads. This he continued for two years. In 1855 he went to Memphis, Tenn., and built hewed log houses for one year. He then lived for a time in Cincinnati. In 1859 he came to Owens- boro, and in November, 1860, he went to McLean County, Ky., and took charge of Leet's saw-mill, which he bought soon after- ward, and ran it two years, and sold back to Leet. He worked in various other mills then, and in 1863 he purchased a mill on Pup Creek, which he rebuilt, and ran three years, when it burned. He then built a mill three miles abgve Knottsville, using the machin- ery of the old mill. This mill he ran five years. He then lived one year in Owensboro. In 1873 he moved his mill to Knotts- ville, where he ran it till June 1, 1882, when he was killed by the saw. He was married Jan. 22, 1861, to Rebecca O'Brien, by whom he had nine children. Of these six are living — William, Isabel, Agnes, Ivo, Mary and Anna. One daughter, Arie, died at the age of twelve years, and another, Ruth, at seven years of age. Both died in September, 1873, of typhoid fever. Mr. Crouse was Digitized by Microsoft® 612 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. an upright man, beloved by his neighbors and friends. He was a member of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society. Davis A. Douthitt, born in Knottsville Precinct, Dec. 19, 1826, was a son of James I/outhitt, a native of South Carolina, wlio came to this county in 1816. He married Elizabeth Barnett, and to them were born four children, only two now living — Davis A. and Pleasant E. Mr. Douthitt was reared a fanner's boy, and iiis educational advantages were necessarily limited, being confined to the early subscription schools. He now owns a fine farm of 130 acres, and is engaged in general farming. He was married Dec. 20, 1851, to Elizabeth J., daughter of Willis J. Black. Three children were born to them, two now living — Sarah A. and Charles AV. Sarah A. married Hardin L. Floyd and resides in Whites- ville; Charles married Ella Diigan, of Owensboro, and resides with his father. Mr. Douthitt is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is a Mason, and belongs to the ,1. O. Gr. T. and Blue Ribbon Club. Pleasant E. Douthitt^ born Jan. 30, 1832, in Yelvington Pre- cinct, was a son of James and Elizabeth (Barnett) Douthitt. During the late war he enlisted in Company B, Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, U. S. A., under J. A. Shackelford. His regiment was in many small battles and skirmishes, being mostly engaged in routing and capturing guerrillas and bushwhackers; also was with the party that routed Morgan from the State. Williain F. Drury, four miles southeast of Knottsville, on the old homestead, was born, where he still lives, Jan. 29, 18i2. His father, Hillary Drury, came to this county in 1832, and settled in the woods on the same tract of land Mr. Drurj' now occupies. Mr. Drury was educated at St. Mary's College, in Marion County. He was married in November, 1872, to Miss Genevieve Mattingly, daughter of Elias Mattingly, of Breckinridge County, Ky. They have had four children, three of whom are living — Margaret C, Mary T. and Annie M. Mr. Drury owns the undivided half of the homestead, consisting of 296 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a member of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society. Joel H. Early, farmer and stock-raiser, one mile west of Knotts- ville, was born in Ohio County, Ky., April 8, 1846. His father, Lewis S. Early (deceased), was a native of Fayette County, Kv. and came to Ohio County in 1844, and to this county with his family in 1854. Our subject was roared on a farm, and received a Digitized by Microsoft® KNOTTSVILLE PEECINCT. 613 C'lmmon-school education. He was married Marcli 22, 1866, to Miss Lucy J., daughter of Joimson Miller. She was born in Da- viess County. They have four children — Margaret E., Joseph S., Armilda E. and James W. Mr. Early is a member of the Baptist church, He owns 116 acres of land. John Evans was born in J eiferson County, Ky. , March 24, 1 823, and is a son of Francis Evans (deceased), a native of Caroline County, Va., who came to Kentucky in an early day. Our sub- ject's Great-grandfather Evans came from Wales a great many years ago, and settled in Virginia. Mr. Evans was brought up on his father's farm, and his educational advantages were none other save those furnished by the subscription schools, taught in a log cabin with clapboard roof, split poles for seats, a log out for a window, and a plank supported on pins in the wall for a writing desk. Mr. Evans came to this county in 1848, and settled in Knottsville Precinct, where] he still lives, three miles west of Knottsville, on his farm of 180 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married Feb. 11, 1852, to Miss Agnes Read, a daughter of Degrafton Read. They have five children — Mary, Bettie, Morton, Maggie and Charles. Mr. Evans has been a member of the Christian church ever since he was eight- een years of age. J. H, Ferrell, Hardinsbarg road, ten miles east of Owensboro, was born in Spencer County, Ind., May 16, 1839, and is a son of Reuben Ferrell (deceased), a native of Virginia. Mr. Ferrell came to this county with his parents in 1855, where he has since resided. In 18^3 he married Susan C. , daughter of James Clark. They have three children — Minnie, Fannie and Robert. Mr. Fer- rell was a soldier in the late war in Company B, Eighth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A. He participated in sev- eral of the smaller engagements, and helped to capture Morgan, the raider. He owns seventy-seven acres of land, and is engaged in general farming. Ghnffin Oatewood, son of James Gatewood, was born in Bowling Green, Ky., Sept. 6, 1820. His father was a native of Virginia. He removed from Bowling Green with his family in 1831, to Hancock County, where he died in 1838. Griffin came to Daviess County in 1839. He ran Jewell's grist-mill two years and in 1841 came to Knottsville and learned the saddler's trade with L. T. Brown. In November, 1842, he went to Jewell's mill and carried on a saddler's shop till December, 1843, when he removed to Yel- Digitized by Microsoft® 614 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. vington and remained eight|years. He then had a shop in Owens- boro four or five years and since then has been engaged in tarming. lie was married Feb. 4, 1841, to Martha A., daughter of L. T. Brown. Eleven children have been born to them, only six now living — James L., Amanda, Mattie J., Tliomas II., Nannie C. and Edwin L. Thomas II. and Ed ,vin L. are teachers, and are fast gaining enviable reputations. Amanda has also taught in this county. Joseph W. Gore, Upper Town Precinct (recently cut oflF from Knottsville), was bora in Knottsville Precinct, Sept. 3, 1826, and is a son of Thomas Gore (deceased), a native of Virginia, who came to this county with his parents from Nelson County, Ky. , about 1804 or 1805. Mr. Gore has always lived on. a farm. "When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for twelve years. Since that time lie has devoted his time and atten- tion to farming. He was married in 1853 to Miss Susan Short- ridge, by whom he had six children, four now living — Alice, Oscar, Annie and William. Mrs. Gore died in 1866 and in 1875 he again married, this time to Miss Mary Purcell, by whom he has three cliildren — Mamie, Lida and George. I'or the past thirty years Mr. Gore has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, Benedict J. Hagan was born near Taylorsville, Spencer Co., Ky. June 10, 1818. His father, Nicholas Hagan, a native of Mary- land, was a shoemaker, and lived in several different places, finally coming to Daviess County in 1838. Benedict J. came here in 1839, and has always ^been a hard-working i'armer, changing much of the land from a wild, uncultivated state to his present well-improved farm. He now owns 140 acres and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1840 to Maria J., daughter of Solomon McDaniel. Tliirteen children have been born to them, nine of whom are living — Alfred I., Susan C, Sarah E., Stephen P., Rosella V., Robert A., Benedict E., Solomon N. and Lucinda J. One son, Henry L.,died in 1878, aged twenty-two years. Mr. Hagan and family are members of the Catholic church. He is a member of the Total Abstinence Society. John G. JIarrison, born in Nelson County, Ky., Dec. 24, 1S02, was a son of William Harrisun, a native of Virginia. He wns reared on a farm and in 1S34 came to Daviess County and settled in the woods of this precinct, u-hero by hard work he cleared and improved a farm. He was married Aug. 24, 1824, to Nancy Shad- wick. Fifteen children '.vere born to them, twelve of whom, si.x Digitized by Microsoft® KNOTTSVILLE PEEOINO'r. 615 boys and^six girls, were reared to maturity. Seven are now living. The family are members of the Baptist church. His son, William T., with whom he makes his home, was born in Nelson County, near Bardstown, Sept. 20, 1833. He received a common-school education and was reared to the life of a farmer, now owning 200 acres of well-improved land. He has never married, bat belongs to the class of beings known as "jolly old bachelors." Richard Henry Hazel, shoemaker, of Knottsville, was born Bear Fairfax Court-House, Ya., Sept. Y, 1818, and was a son of Edward Hazel, or, as commonly called, Uncle Ned, who brought his family to Nelson County, Ky., in the fall oi 1827, and to this county the following spring, settling in the forests of Knottsville Precinct. He was married in 1840, to Eliza Henning, daiughter of Ezekiel Henning, and has two sons — Thomas E. and William S. Mrs. Hazel died in 1881. She was a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Hazel is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Thomas E. Hazel, son of K. H. Hazel, of Knottsville, was born in this precinct, Jan. 22, 1841. On the day of his birth some parties dug a grave in the St. Lawrence Catholic cemetery. They had a large bottle of whisky with them, which they left by the grave, and a few days after, Mr. Hazel was out hunting and passed by the cemetery and found this bottle and took it home. It was a half-gallon bottle, and of the old-fashioned kind. For several years this bottle was used to churn the butter in for the family, and when Tom was large enough to send to the store he carried molasses in it. On one occasion he came swinging it along, when all at once it flew from his hand and broke, and away went bottle, molasses and all. He was married, Jan. 10, 1860, to Ma- tilda Wathen, by whom he had nine children, four living — Mary E., Elnora, Eliza and Rosaline. Mrs. Hazel died Aug. 19, 1874. Mr. Hazel married in January, 1876, Emma May, by whom he had one child (deceased). Mr. Hazel early learned the shoemak- er's trade with his father, and followed it several years. He also worked in tobacco factories several years, and for some time in saw and grist mills. 'William 8. Hazel, of Knottsville, son of R. H. Hazel, was bom in Knottsville, Feb. 20, 1853. He was educated in Cecilian Col. lege, of Hardin County, this State. In 1872 and 1873 he clerked on the wharf-boat of Triplett, Bacon & Co., of Owensboro; came to Knottsville in 1874, and clerked for Dr. Drury, and was at the same time engaged in the insurance agency. In 1876 he worked Digitized by Microsoft® 616 HI8TOBT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. on a farm, and in 1876 he engaged in the mercantile business with C. O. Clements, in Knottsville. In 1878 Clements sold to J. W. McJohnston, of Owensboro, who continued with Mr. Hazel as a partner until August, 1880, when he sold his interests to the latter. Mr. Hazel continued the business until Oct. 8, 1882, when he sold it to Ignatius A. Aull, he still owning the undertaker's department. Mr. Hazel erected a small grist-mill at Knottsville in 1881, but sold it and built a larger one in 1882, which we de- scribe elsewhere in this work. He married Agnes L. Clements, daughter of C O. Clements, of Knottsville. They have two chil- dren— Chloe and Joseph B. Mr. Hazel is Deputy County Clerk) and a Catholic Knight; also member of the N. M. B. A. Elisha Head was born in Knottsville Precinct, March 15, 1818, and is a son of William Head, who came to this county before the war of 1812, while the Indians were yet here. He worked at teaming for some time; afterward bought land, and married Han- nah Adams, who bore him twelve children, of whom our subject is the fifth. Mr. Head had no educational advantages in his boy- hood, as schools were almost unknown in some localities. He married Caroline Bruner, by whom he had four children, two living — Edmund and Hannah. Mr. Head's second wife was Christina Quinn. They had four children, two now living — William and Robert. Thomas B. Head, born in Nelson County, Ky., Aug. 17, 1821, is a son of Henry Head, a native of Maryland. His father came to Daviess County in 1830, and settled in Knottsville Precinct) where Albert Shelton now lives. He was reared a farmer and now owns 180 acres four miles northeast of Knottsville, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. In October, 1845, he married Mary E., daughter of Hillary Bell. Of their nine children but six are living — Mary E., Melvina, Thomas N., William, James H. and Susan E. One daughter, Elizabeth, died at the age of sixteen years. Mr. Head has been a member of the Baptist chui'ch a number of years, and has been a Deacon in the church three years. William B. Head, born. in Daviess County, Ky., Nov. 16, 1809, was a son of William Head, a native of Maryland, and an early set- tler of this county, coming here when people were few, and set- tlers went seven or eight miles to help neighbors roll logs and raise houses. William B. received a limited education in the early log school-house. He well remembers when there was but one Digitized by Microsoft® KN0TT8V1LLE PRECINCT. 617 frame house in the county, and no brick houses. He used to go to Owensboro, a distance of ten miles, to market. He was married Nov. 13, 1831, to Catharine Jarboe, daughter of Charles Jarboe. Of their ten children but five are living — James E., William T., Elizabeth A., Christina and Laura. Caroline, Charles, Frances, Elisha and Sophronia are deceased. Mr. Head owns 101^ acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. The family are members of the Catholic church. Harvey E. Henning, farmer, one-half mile west of Knottsville, was born in this precinct, three miles southeast of Knottsville, Feb. 20, 1838, and is a son of "William Henning, recently of this pre- cinct, of whom we shall speak further in his personal sketch. Our subject was brought up on the farm, and had little or no educa- tional advantages, except in the field at hard work. He was mar- ried Feb. 19, 1860, to Miss Susan C. Hagan, daughter of Benedict Hagan. This union has been blessed with thirteen children, of whom ten are living — Raymond I., William B., Sarah A., Susan E., Mary E., Hillary H., Zachariah, Emmeline J., Frances B. and Nora. Mr. Henning owns 133 acres of valuable land, and is en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a Catholic Knight. James A. Henning was born on the old homestead, two and one-half miles southeast of Knottsville. He received a common- school education. Married Jan. 9, 1872, Miss Kate Vanmeter, daughter of Josiah Yanmeter, of Owensboro. She was born in Hardin County, Ky. They have five children — James I., Ada C, Mary F.,. Anna M. and Felix L. Mr. Henning owns 34i acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has also been buying tobacco for the past three years, and has been very successful. Mr. Henning and family are Catholics. William Henning, the father of the above, was born in Nelson County ^Ky., Jan. 17, 1811, and is a son of Ezekiel Henning, a native of Mary- land, who brought his family to this county in 1821, and settled near Knottsville. He was in the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Henning was married Sept. 11, 1834, to Mrs. Sally Wells, by whom he had nine children, five living — Harvey E., Lyman, James A., Elnora and Robert. Mrs. Henning died Oct. 25, 1853, and he married, Oct. 25, 1854, Mary A. Mattingly, by whom he has four children — Sarah E., Ida A., John L. and William L. Mr. Henning has been a life-long Catholic. Charles H Higdon, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in this precinct Nov. 11, 1835, and was a son of B. Henson and Henri- Digitized by Microsoft® 618 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. etta (Milton) Higdon, both natives of Maryland. He was reared on a farm, and received his education in the common schools of this county. He was married in 1870 to Sarah A., daughter of John R. Duncan. Eight ciiildren have been born to them, six now living — Charles I., Mary M., Francis K., Elmer L., Henson and an infant son. Mr. Higdon owns 135 acres of well-improved land. He and family are members of the Catholic church. John A. Higdon was born on Plum Run Greek, Nelson Co., Ky., Oct. 8, 1832. His father, Charles W. Higdon, brought his. family to Daviess County in 1838, and settled in Knottsville Precinct. He married Nancy liiggs. John A. was the seventh of their ten children. He was married in June, 1860, to Mary Y., daughter of Edward T. Long, who came to this county from Maryland many years ago. Nine children have been born to them, eight now living — Edward "W"., Juliet C, James R., Ann E., John H., Rosa M., Thomas E. and Joseph M. Mr. Higdon owns a farm of 162f acres, four miles northeast of Knottsville. His family are mem- bers of the Catholic church. Richard Higdon (deceased), late of Knottsville, was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 1807. He was born h slave, and the prop- erty of Peter Higdon, therefore he took his name. At the death of Peter Higdon he fell to the Higdon heirs. Our subject was a very enterprising man and wished to be free. He therefore hired his time by paying his master a stated sum annually, and was allowed to work for whomsoever he desired, for wages. He made enough each year to pay his master for his time and something more besides. In the meantime he married Mahala Norris, a free lady of no little ingenuity and skill. They raised a family of children, the oldest of whom were hired out by Mrs. Higdon as soon as they were large enough to work, and their earnings, to- gether with her own, above the expense of living, was applied toward liberating Mr. Higdon. This, with what he had saved from year to year, amounted to the requisite sum, and he became a free man. Mr. Higdon was a remarkable worker in his time. He has been known to make as many as 300 rails in one day, taking them from the stump. On many a night he has worked nearly half of the night after performing his daily labor, so anxious was he to obtain his liberty. He was the father of seven children, of whom five are living — Daniel V., John T., Richard H., Ellen and Elizabeth. One daughter, Harriet, died at the age of thirty- five years. Tlie oldest child living, Daniel V., is a practical den- Digitized by Microsoft® KNUTTSA'ILLE PRECINCT. 619 tist, and is a subscriber to this work. lie was married and bad tour children. Ilis wife and one child are dead. Mr. Higdoawas raised a Catholic and died one, Jan. 2, 1883. He owned 100 acres of land adjoining Knottsville. William James Husk, soti of George Hnsk, of Knottsville Pre- cinct, was born in this precinct Dec. 23, 1839, and stiil lives on a part of the old homestead. He was reared a farmer and now owns 109 acres of good land. He was educated in the subscription schools of this precinct. April 21, 1863, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Moses Reynolds. Five children have been born to them, three only now living — Marion, James B. and Fannie C. Tlie other two, William A. and Florence, aged eight and six years re- spectively, were burned to death by the explosion of a kerosene can with whicli they were playing, pouring the oil over the fire. James I. Knott, half mile east of Knottsville, was born in Nel- son County, Ky., July 2, 1825, and is a son of Leonard Knott (de- ceased). Onr subject came with his parents to this county in the fall of 1826. He lias always been a farmer. He received an edu- cation in a log cabin, and sat on a split pole bench. He was mar- ried Feb. 1,1853, to Mrs. Mary A. McDaniel, daughter of James T. Carrico. By her he had five children — Mary M., Matilda J., Tresa R., Robert I. and William M. Mrs. Knott died in 1863, and he married in 1865, Yerlinda J. Ludwick, by whom he has had four children, three living — Marcellus, Genevieve and Agnes. The family are Catholics, and Mr. Knott is a member of the Total Ab- stinence Society. He owns 137| acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. ^i^ 1860, at tiie tame Iv.Mjr as hefoio, Mr. Payne was again married. Nine chil- dren were born to tliis union, seven now living — Mary E., John E., Tlioma.s L., Ton^fta A ,. Mart^aret J., Simeon M. and Michael J. Richard J. died at the age of eighteen and Mary J. when about two vears old. Mr. l'a}ne owns 150 acres of good land and is engaged hi farminiT 'ind ?tock-raising. The fajnily are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Payne is a firm believer in total abstinence. ,St,p]ii01, to Per- cilla Field, a native of Daviess County, born Dec. 12, 1844. They had two children — Jediah W. and George F. Mrs. Gill died in June, 1865. Dec. 16, 1866, Mr. Gill married Sarah Ann Nalley, a native of Breckinridge County, Ky., born March 12, 1843. They Lave two children — Effie J. and Catherine H. Mr. Gill is a mem- ber of the General Baptist church. James Henry Haley (deceased) was born in 1828, and was a son of Spencer and Nancy (Weatherfoot) Haley, natives of Vir- ginia, who moved to Kentucky and settled in Shelby County. A short time after he moved to McLean County, and in 1850 came to Daviess County. March 21, 1851, Mr. Haley married Mary L.. daughter of James and Elizabeth (Stone) Talbott. She was bom in Gi-anger County, Tenn., March 7, 1830, and came to Daviess County with her parents in 1849. After his marriage Mr. Haley bought a farm in Murray Precinct, where he lived two years, when he bought the old homestead, where he resided till his death. He served as Justice of the Peace ior Murray Precinct four years. He was a farmer, and for several years was also engaged in the saw-milling business. He and his eldest son, James S., were killed Jan. S, 1875, by the explosion ot the boiler in his saw-mill. Mr. Haley was a man who took a great deal of interest in the wel- fare of the county, and was recognized as one of the foremost men of his neighborhood. Mrs. Haley resides with her family on the homestead, which now consists of 137 acres, 'she having sold ten acres for town lots. She is a member of the Baptist church, as was also her husband. They had a family of eleven children, eight now liviTig— -lames S., born Jan. 26, 1852. married Mattic Will- iams, and was killed Jan. X. 1875; Patrick Henry, born June 29. 1854, mariied Kate Roby: Jacob W., born Jan. 26, 1856, married Mattie Heaeh: llattie, horn -June 4, 1857, deceased; Lizzie, horn Dec. 2(1. I^.IS, married Ferdinand O'Fiynn; Nannie B., born May 24, I86n. deceased: Fannie A., born Jan. 16, 1862, married Enos Cundiff; John W., born April 21, 1863, married Dora Roby; Allie R., born March L't';, 1865; Dora, born Sept. 25. 1866; Peter !).. born Oct. *i, ls69. Digitized by Microsoft® MURRAY PRECINCT. 73& Minei' Hall, son of Lewis and Ann (Hall) Hall, natives ot Bullitt County, Ky , was born in the same county, Dec. 16, 1831. His grandfather, Clifton Hall, was a native of Virginia, and set- tled in Kentucky in 1798. His father was a fanner, and died in his native county in 1872. His mother still lives on the old home- stead, aged seventy-five years. Five of nine children are living, three sons and two daughters. Miner Hall was married Jan. 15, 18-57, to Virginia F., daughter of Coleman Bridewell, of Bullitt County. After his marriage he bought a farm near his home and lived on it several years. During the war he sold his farnti, and lived with his wife's father three years. He then purchased a farm of his father-in-law, and lived there till February, 1882, when he sold out, and came to Daviess County, and bought his present farm of forty-one acres in Murray Precinct. He has been moder- ately successful, but has met with some heavy losses. Soon after ccommenced farming he had his new house destroyed by fire; during the war he lost his slave?, and was drafted into the United States service, having to pay $1,000 to avoid serving. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have four children — Eliza- beth Ann, wife of Benjamin T. Burdette; Martha E., wife of J. B. Swearingen; Charles L. and Coleman B. Wm T. Hewlett, born March 11, 1830, in Spotteylvania County Va., is a son of Tlios. H. and Frances (Wiglesworth) Hewlett, both deceased. They reared a family of four sons and four daugh- ters, and one son died in infancy. Wm. Hewlett came to Ken- tucky in December, 1851; first located at Biiford, Ohio County. He was married in Virginia, Nov. 9, 1851, to Leah E. A. H. Smith. He bought a farm in Buford, where he remained about fifteen years. In 1866 he sold his farm in Ohio County and bought his farm of 225 acres, situated partly in Ohio and partly in Daviess counties. Mr. and Mrs. Hewlett have ten children living — Thos. H., Wm. A., K. J., David C, Jefferson D., Leah F., Clemmie V, Martha E., Mary E. and Addie. Politically Mr. Hewlett is a Dem- ocrat. He is a member of the Baptist church. Colonel James M. Holmes was born in Owensboro, Ky., Nov. 10, 1825. His parents, James L. and Ann (Griffith) Holmes, were natives of Virginia and Maryland, respectively, his father born Feb. 28, 1785, and his mother, Aug. 2, 1788. They were married in Shelby County, Ky., April 23,1806, and came to Owensboro in 1823. They had a family of eight children, three now living, James M. being the youngest and only one now living in Kentucky. Digitized by Microsoft® 736 HI8T0BT OF DAVIESS OOUNTT. "While living in Shelby Connty, James L. Holmes was in the mer- cantile business, but after coming to Owensboro he opened a cab- inet-maker's shop where he employed several hands. On account of sickness he moved into the country and remained till 1831, wlien he returned to Owensboro, resuming his former business. In the war of 1812 he was a Captain in the volunteer service, serv- ing under Isaac Shelby, Governor of JJ^entucky. At the breaking out of the war between Texas and Mexico, he recruited a company in Owensboro and went to New Orleans where he found a body of men recruited for the Texan army but abandoned by their Colonel. These troops joined his command, and entered the Texan army, Mr. Holmes being appointed Major in command of the regiment. Soon after, Colonel Grooms being sent to Washington to negotiate a loan, Mr. Holmes was elected Colonel. He served till Dec. 15, 1836, when he died of camp fever, at Camp Johnson, Texas. James M. now has a Texas paper bearing date Jan. 3, 1837, with resolutions of regret at his death. His wife died Feb. 13,1868, in the eightieth year of her age. James M. was but eleven years old at his father's death, but his father having spent all his means in fitting out the troops for Texas, he was obliged to go to wbrk when twelve years of age and never again attended school. He first worked two years in the dry goods store of T. G. & W. T. Cole. He then worked two years on the farm with his grandfather, Caleb Griflith, spending his leisure time in study. Upon leaving his grandfather's, he entered a drug store as an apprentice, reniaining there three years. In 1845 he went to Texas for the purpose of getting something for the services rendered Texas by his father. In 184;6, during the war between the United States and Mexico, he joined McCullongh's spy company. At the expiration of his term of service he was employed as clerk in the commission house ot E, "W. Taylor, of Houston, Texas, and remained there till February, 1848, when he returned to Owensboro and went to work in a drug store. In the fall of 1849 he went on a farm. Oct. 4, 1861, he entered the service of the United States in the Third Kentucky Cav- alry, commanded by J. T. Jackson, and four days later was sent out -on detail duty. On making his report to his Colonel he was given a Captain's commission. In January, 1862, he was commissioned Major, and the following July, Lieutenant-Colonel. At this time, on account of hard work, he was afflicted with paralysis of the eyes which unfitted him for duty. He returned home and by judicious treatment, after several months, his eyes so far recovered as to en- Digitized by Microsoft® MUEEAT PEEOINCT. 737 able him to re-enter the army, and at tlie time of General Bragg's entrance into Kentucky he rejoined his regiment and remained in active service, doing detailed duty, till July, 1863. His eyesight causing him trouble and unfitting him for field duty, he resigned his position and returned home, where he remained till February, 1864. By the recommendation of some ofiicers under whom he had served he received the commission as Captain and Brevet- Lieu- tenant-Colonel in the regular army. He re-entered the army and was sent to Connecticut to muster out the volunteer troops from that State. In January, 1866, he resigned his commission and re- turned home and has since been engaged in farming. He has a farm of 470 acres in Murray Precinct, well improved. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1852, and is now Dea- con of the Oak Grove church. He was married in 1851 to Eliza- beth, daughter of William Evans. They have four children, three sons and one daughter. Fred Howard^ son of Allen and Patsey Latney(Owen) Howard, was born in Ohio County, Ky., Aug. 2, 1838. His father was a .~(in of Mark Howard and was born in Daviess, then Ohio County. After Daviess was cut ofi' from Ohio, he moved into Ohio, and lived there till the part where be lived was taken off into McLean ( !onnty. He died in 1877. His wife was a daughter of William Owen. She died in March, 1879. They had a family of seven children, five now living — William O. (deceased), Mark, Henry, Fred, llachel, Charlotte (deceased) and Timon. Fred Howard was i(^ared in Ohio County. He was married in McLean County, in iS53, to Emma, daughter of Albert Jones, and a native of Warrick <;onnty, Ind., born Dec. 25, 1838. They have four children — Ahliy I)., Henry, Sallie and Lottie. Josie and two infants are lU'ceased. Mr. Howard came to his present home, given him hy hit^ fither, in Marcli, 1865. Hi 1856 he became a member ot Hrar Creek Baptist churcl), in McLean County, and in 1866 trans- iorrcil his incnibcrship to the Green Brier church. Ilriuij Iloic-ird. — In Murray Precinct the Howard family is one .>t' tlio oldotft Mild most iiu'iierous, having settled at an early day in flie iKM^'hliorhiKxl of the present Green Brier church. Many of tin' lie.-, eiidants still n.-fiide in that vicinity. The family came from Noriii Carolina and settled in this locality when only two or three faiiilliL's W' re living in the present limits of Daviess County, south lit Pantlier Crock. The settlers were so few in number that Henry ILiward's father, Mark Howard, was obliged to send to Hartford 47 Digitized by Microsoft® 738 msTOET OF daviess county. and Vienna (now Oalhoon) for assistance in raising his house. The • original Howards were from Essex, England, and were descendants of Sir Heary Howard, Earl of Essex. There were five brothers two of whom settled in Pennsylvania and three in North Carolina. Mark Howard came to Kentucky in a very early day, but afterward returned to North Carolina, and about 1790 married Rachel Webb. Several children were born in North Carolina. He moved with his family to Kentucky, and settled in Daviess County in 1803. The land on which he located was purchased in 1800, of Harry Ennis, of Nelson County, as the deed which still exists bears evi- dence, and was surveyed by Captain Ben Fields. The original pur- chase called for 1,100 acres at a " bit " an acre, but he afterward lost 700 acres of it. He returned to North Carolina and brought his family with him, and settled on the 400 acres which were situated on the old Hartford road, the first road opened up in Daviess County; at that time the road was only a trail leading through the woods. Mark Howard liad fourteen children, all of whom lived to adult life and married ; most of them died at an advanced age. Henry ^Howard, the eleventh child, was born in 1809. He lived at home until his twenty-ninth year, and in February, 1836, he married Miss Jane McDaniel Felix, who was born in Ohio County. Her father was a native of Germany and her mother of Virginia. Mr. Howard settled at once on a farm, a half a mile from the place where he was born. As was the custom at that time, he was a mere squatter, without having possession[of the property. Henry How- ard also raised fourteen children, all of whom became worthy mem- bers of the community. Their names are: Arena E., now Mrs. Kel- ley; Louis L., SallieE., wife of Geo. "W. Talbott; Mahala F., wife of William R. Atherton; S. B. ; Geneva A., wife of S. H. Davis; Josiah F., Kinchen H., RacherE., wife of W. T. Davis; Malissa P., Phillip S., John T., Artelia and Susan J. Artelia died March 24, 1882. S. B. Howard, the second son, was born in September, 1844. He was raised by his uncle, from whom he received his name. He never saw the inside of a school-house till he was twelve years of age; attended school only a few months till he was twenty-one. Ee then entered Bethel College, at Russellville, Logan County. He had mastered his preparatory studies almost entirely by himself also earned the money to pay his expenses while at school. He was at Bethel College two years, having taught school one year in- tervening between the two. Returning home he taught school six Digitized by Microsoft® MUKKAY PRECINCT. 73!> years in Daviess and McLean counties. In 1872 he moved to his present farm of 132 acres. Horticulture lias largely enf^aij;cd his attention, and thirty acres of his farm are set in with fruit trees, ]irincip;illy apple and peach. His principal crops arc corn, wheat and grass. Since the age of twelve Mr. Howard has been a mem- l)er of the Green J]rier Baptist church, and has tilled several of its )'e>ponsible otiices, among wliich are those of financial agent, Clerk and Deacon. Ajiril 14, 1881, he married to Mattie E. Bell, of Ohio County, daughter of William Bell. They liave one daughter — Eugene Bell Howard. James W. How rd [deceased) was born Sept. 23, 1796, in Orange County, N. C, and was a son of Mark and Rachel (Webb) How- ard, natives of North Carolina, and descendants of the Howard and Webb families of Essex, England. James W. came to Ken- tucky when eight years of age, and lived on the same farm liis fatlier settled in 180i, till his death, May 10, 1881. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Samuel and Sallie I. Johnson. Tiiey had ten children, seven now living — Nester C, Henry W., Sallie I. (Mrs. Benjamin Tanner), Albert G., JRobert, Arabella (widow of John A. Ilown), and Rosanna (Mrs. T. L. Tanner). Jane, wife of .iohn Walden, of Henderson, Ky., Samuel J. and Araminta D. are deceased. Mrs. Howard is still living, aged seventy-seven vears. Albert G. Howard was married in February, 1870, to Allie ],., daughter of Thomas J. and Martha J. (Lee) Blanchard. They have six children — James L., Blanchard, Mary A.,Hattie V., Nes- ter and Martha. In 1870 Albert, in company with his brother, liobert, bought 255J acres in the western part of Murray Precinct John Howard, born July 8, 1815, in Murray Precinct, Daviess (ak, Ky., was a son of Mark and Rachel (Webb) Howard, both natives of North Carolina. His parents were married in North Carolina, and came to Daviess County with their older children ■iiid settled in Daviess County, near Green Brier church. His father died iti May, 1825, and his mother at a good old age. There were foil rteeii children ; all lived to be married. There are now livi:i;^ .laine?, John, and Hannah, widow of Samuel Johnson. .joliii Flc.ward was married March 8, 1838, to Mary Johnson, who died in ls6><, leaving five children, four daugliters and one son. March 14, 1872, Mr. Howard married Estelle Spurr, a native of Kayette (Jonnty, Ky. They have had two children, a son, and a daughter (deceased). Mr. Howard moved on the farm where ho Digitized by Microsoft® 740 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. now resides in 1842. He has 200 acres of tine land under a good state of cultivation. Samud D. Howard^ Sr., was born in Murray Precinct, Daviess Co., Ky., Aug. 19, 1810. His father, Mark Howard, was one of the earliest settlers of this county, and died when Samuel was about fourteen. In his nineteenth year he made a profession ot religion, and joined the Green Brier church, and is now the oldest male member of the church, Mrs. William Howard beings the old- est. He was married Feb. 19, 1834, to Sarah Ann, daughter of John and Sallie Felix, who was born in Ohio County, Ky., Sept. 26, 1812, and died July 23, 1876. In the fall of 1834 they went to housekeeping on the place where Mr. Howard still resides, and where he has 204 acres. In 1840 he and his brother Henry bought 1,100 acres at $2 per acre, but has since sold part of it. Mr. and Mrs. Howard had no children, but have reared nine who were fatherless — S. B. and Arena Howard, children of Henry Howard; Elizabeth T., Morris, Sarah J. and Mary F. Christian, nieces ot Mrs. Howard. Arena Howard married William H. Smith, who died, leaving four children — Esther J., Telitha A., Austin E. and William H. His wife then brought her chilriren home to her uncle's house. Mr. Howard is one of the oldest men now living who was born in this county. Henry J. Hunter, born Aug. 1, 1825, in Shelby County, Ky., is a eon of Henry and Mahala (Evans) Hunter, his father a native ot North Carolina, born in 1783, and his mother a native of Eastern Kentucky. His father was the youngest of a family of five children, and when ten years of age came with his widowed mother to Shelby County. He was married in 1809, and lived on a farm in Shelby County till 1818, when he went to Middle Tennessee, and in 1820 returned to Shelby County, where he died in 1858. His wife died in 1863. Henry J. is the fifth of their eight children. He received a limited education in the district schools of his neighborhood, remaining with his father till twenty-two years of age. He, how- ever, made his father's house his home till his marriage, in the meantime working for neighboring farmers. He was married Nov. 4, 1852, to Martha McMahon, who was born in Henry County, Ky., Dec. 25, 1831. They have seven children — Laura A., wife of U. J. Westerfield; MaryE., wife of Caleb Smith; William T., Susan J., OraL., AnnaS. andEJla. They have four grandchildren. In 1855 Mr. Hunter came to Daviess County, and lived on a rented farm one season. He and his brother then bought a farm in Ohio Digitized by Microsoft® MURRAY PRECINCT. 741 County, where he lived four years, and then sold his interest to his brother and came again to Daviess County, renting a farm a year. He then returned to Ohio County and bought a farm near his brother, and remained tliere seventeen years. In 1878 he sold his place, and bought the one where he now lives, in Pleasant Ridge, Daviess County. Mr. Hunter is a member of the Baptist church. Robert H. Jachson, born in Masonville Precinct Nov. 8, 1849, is a son of Andrew and Mary (Lacklin) Jackson. His father was a native of Ohio, then Nelson, County, Ky., and in 1816 came with his parents, George and Sarah (Crawford) Jackson, to Daviess County, Ky. Robert II., the youngest of five children, was but three months old when his mother died. His father then married Gabriella Jones. Tliey had five children. Robert H. was but four years old when ho moved with his parents to Lafayette County, Mo.; remained there until eight years old, when his father returned to Daviess County. When thirteen- years old liis father died. He then lived on the farm with his step-mother until 1873, when he bought a farm in Murray Precinct, which he still owns. He mar- ried Alice Johnson, Nov. 27, 1873. She was born in Daviess County, and is a daughter of Barnett and Lucina (Owen) Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had three children, two living — Emi- lus, born Dec. 12, 1874, and Otis D., born July 27, 1879. After his marriage Mr. Jackson settled in Murray Precinct, where he has since resided, and where he owns a fine farm of 216 acres, eighty acres under cultivation. He is a member of John J. Da- veiss Lodge, No. 389, A. F. & A. M., at Sugar Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Jackson is a Democrat. William H. Johnson, son of Samuel I. and Sallie I. Johnson, was born June 10, 1809, in Orange County, N. C. In November, 1814, his parents came to Daviess County and settled on the farm now owned by C. L. Davis. In the fall after he was twenty-two, Will- iam H. and his brother Isham went up on Blackford Creek, where they each owned a farm. Dec. 27, 1832, he married Mary Jane Ralston, born at Kanawha Salt-works, Va., of Irish descent. She died in November, 1843. They had two sons and two daughters, only one of whom grew to maturity — A. B. A year after the death of his wife Mr. Johnson sold his farm and moved to Louisiana, and for three years was overseer on a sugar plantation. He then went to ^evi Orleans, where for three years he had charge of a stave- yard, and then went into the brokerage business, at which he was Digitized by Microsoft® 7-12 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. very successful. In 1854 he returned to Daviess County, and car- ried on the homestead farm for his mother till her death in August, 1868. His father died in 1848. In March, 1869, Mr. Johnson and his son, A. B., opened a store in Pleasant Ridge, where he has since resided. His son died Jan. 6, 1871, aged thirty-three years, leaving a wife and child. For several years Mr. Johnson was out of business, but at present he has a grocery at the " Ridge." Po- litically he has been a life-long Democrat, casting his first Presi- dential vote for General Jackson. Samuel JB. Lashbrook was born in Murray Precinct, Daviess Co., Ky., May 14, 1825. His father, Samuel Lashbrook, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and after his return home, with three brothers, George, John and James, came from Bullitt to Daviess County, shortly after the war of 1812, and settled in Masonville on a farm. He resided there a year or two and then bought 100 acres in Murray Precinct. He married Martha Brashear, a native of Bul- litt County. They had a family of eight children, six now living. Mr. Lashbrook, Sr., died in 1831 from the effects of being thrown from a horse. Mrs. Lashbrook lived with her son, Samuel B., till her death, in 1874. Samuel B. still lives in the house where he was born and which his father built soon after coming to this county. His educational advantages consisted of three months schooling, which he walked three miles to obtain. He was married May 20, 1852, to Altha J., daughter of Henry and Hannah Stevens, of Ohio County. She was born Jan. 17, 1833. They had two chil- dren— Finley Black, born May 1, 1853, died Sept. 25, 1854, and Jane D. Esther, born March 11,1855, died Feb. 11,' 1856. Mrs. Lashbrook died April 13, 1855. Sept. 4, 1856, Mr. Lashbrook married Missouri D. Prather, a native of Hopkins County, Ky. She died Jan. 2, 1878, leaving seven children — Altha C, born Sept. 16, 1858; Wilbur E., July 11,1862; Morris E., Aug. 20, 1864; Etha L. , Oct. 16, 1866; Dothulia, Nov. 19, 1868; Guy P., July 26, 1871; George T., May 10, 1875. May 6, 1879, Mr. Lashbrook married Sue A. (Colyer) Lashbrook, widow of James W. Lashbrook. He has been a member of the Methodist church twenty years. In politics he was born and reared an old-line "Whig, and since the downfall of that party has been a Republican. John W. Lloyd, born June 17, 1842, in Nelson County, Ky., was a son of Williamson and Fannie (Wigginton) Lloyd, natives of Culpeper, Va. They came to Kentucky, locating in Nelson County. Kis father was a farmer, and died in 1849, aged forty-five years. Digitized by Microsoft® M0RBAT PEEOINOT. 743 Hie mother died in January, 1870, aged sixty-five years. John W. was the youngest of seven children, three now living. He was married Feb. 1, 1870, to Mary E. Birkhead, a native of Daviess County, and a daughter of Simeon L. Birkhead. After the death of her parents she lived with her grandparent in Bullitt County till her marriage. They remained in Nelson ounty a short time after marriage, and then went to Yigo County, Ind.,and remained ten months, when they came to Daviess Count/ and located on the Ohio Eiver, opposite Rockport, Ind. Mr. LLyd followed farming there for five years, and then moved to Utica, and bought property and opened a grocery and general store, where he has a good trade from the surrounding country. Mr, and Mrs. Lloyd have four children, and two orphan children they have had from infancy, David A. Magiiider, son of Levi and Catherine (Straney- Brown) Magruder, was born in Bullitt County, Ky., April 26, 1848. His father was born in Bullitt County, March 6, 1796, and died May 2, 1863. He once owned 1,000 acres of land where Louisville new stands. His grandfather, Archibald Magruder, was born in Mary- land in 1750, and married Cassandra OflEbt, and came to Kentucky in 1795. He died in 1842 aged ninety-two years. Mr. Magruder's mother was the daughter of James Straney, and was born in 18l6; she died in 1863. There was a family of eight children — George, supposed to have been killed in the late war; Yina, wife of Joseph S. Downs; David A. and Ezekiel M., twins; JohnT., Sexton P., Henry H., and Rhoda E., wife of Charles K. Teiser. David A. was reared in Bullitt County, and when eighteen went to Spencer County and worked on a farm with his brother-in-law, Joseph S. Downs, two years. He then went to Union County and lived a year; then returned to Spencer County, and from there went to Bullitt County, remaining a year in each. Feb. 1, 1871, he came to Daviess County, and March 1 went to work for Daniel E. Yeiser. Oct. 10, 1871, he married Mary C. Yeiser, daughter of Ms employer. They remained with Mr. Yeiser till the following spring, when they went to housekeeping. In the fall of 1876 he bought his present home of eighty acres under a good state of cul- tivation. While residing in Spencer County he experienced re- ligion and joined the Baptist church at New Salem, Nelson County. He transferred his membership from there to the Sugar-Grove church, in Masonville, and from there to the Oak Grove church, in Murray, his wife being a member of that church. Mr. and Mrs. Magruder have had five children, only three now living — Helen, Digitized by Microsoft® 744 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COTTNTT. Sallie B. and William. The following is a copy of a card printed on the death of the other two: DEATHS. Magbuder— Died of scarlet fever, Jan. 18, 1881, little Carrie, daughter of D. A. and Mary 0. Magruder, of Daviess Countj', Ky., aged three years, ten months and sixteen days. Dear little Carrie, how brief thy stay. Short and hasty was thy day ; Ending soon thy journey here. Pain and grief no more to bear. Magrudbb — ^Pearl, infant daughter of D. A. and Mary C. Magruder, of Da- viess County, Ky., was born April 9, 1879: died of scarlet fever after a short ill- ness, Jan. 4, 1881. Hard it is from thee to part. How it rends the aching heart ; But an heir of glory is gone. Let the will of God be done. Steven G. Marshall (deceased) was born in Culpeper County, Va., June 4, 1792, and was a son of George Marshall, who came to Kentucky and settled in Scott County when Steven was six months old. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist church, and when about twenty-dve became identified with the Christian church, and shortly after began preaching. In his younger days he was quite a revivalist, and was a man of great reputation, preaching in seven or eight different States. He was a strict ad- herent to his religious principles, and did all he could to advance the cause of Christianity. He was a very large man, weighing from 200 to 220 pounds. He was married in 1815, to Elizabeth Kellis, a native of Bourbon County, Ky. They had twelve children — Mary, John "W., Francis M., James M., Thomas S., Henry C, Crittenden, Eliza J., Rebecca, Leonidas, C-reorge (died when small), Nettie. Mr. Marshall came to Daviess County in 1841, and settled on the forks of Pantlier Creek, where he lived four years. He then bought the Marshall farm, consisting of 22Y acres, of Lewis Owen. It was first owned by James Howard, who sold it to William Owen, and is now in tiie possession of Francis and Leonidas Marshall. Mrs. Marshall died in 1843, in her forty- sixth year, and Mr. Marshall, March 23, 1872. Almarian May, born March 13, 1S34, in Daviess County, is a son of William and Susan (Rice) May. He was married Jan. 30, 1857, to Mary Webb Davis, daughter of Thos. Wesley Davis. I the fall of 1867 'Mr. May bought a farm now owned by J. J. Digitized by Microsoft® MUBEAT PBECINOT. 745 Christian, where he lived jtill 1864. He then rented a farm till 1878. From 1867 till 1870 he was engaged in saw-mill business with Dan E. Yeiser and A. Q. Davis. In 1878 he bought a tract of land containing fifty acres, and in the spring of 1883 purchased the old homestead place, having at present 215 acres. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in 1856. When he began life he had a year's provisions, a horse, cow, and bed. While he has been successful as a farmer he has also met with some re- verses in life. Mr. and Mrs. May have nine children — Fernander, Archer G., Mercer, Thos. H., Timothy F., Nathaniel Lee, Emory Wesley, Lou, and Marvin. William May, son of John and Ollie (Barnes) May, was born in Simpson (then Logan) County, Ky., Jan. 1, 1803. His parents came to Kentucky in 1794. In 1812 they came to Daviess County, locating about five miles south of Owensboro. His mother died in January, 1803, leaving twelve children, William being the only one now living. His father afterward married Sallie Brown, a native of South Carolina. They had eight children, only two now living. His father died in 1830. William May was married Oct. 26, 1826^ to Susan Rice, a native of Orange County, N. C, daughter of Ernest Rice, an old Revolutionary hero. The first three years after his marriage Mr. May rented a farm in Masonville. In the fall of 1829 he bought 220 acres, where he now lives, which he has added to till he now owns 365 acres. Mr. and Mrs. May had a family of ten children, seven now living — Sallie (deceased), was the wife of Gilbert Skillman ; Horace, married Hester Wood, and resides at Jacksonville, 111. ; Orlando, married Elizabeth Davis ; Almarian, marri«d Mary W. Davis ; Helen is the wife of Alexander Davis; William, married Amelia Davis; Susan is the wife of James W. Russell .; Alice, wife of Thomas J. May ; Mercer (de- ceased); Melissa (deceased), wife of Lewis Howard. Mrs. May died Nov. 14, 1882. Politically Mr. May was formerly a Whig, but of* later years he has been associated with the Democratic party. His grandfather William May, was a native of England, but was kidnapped when a child and brought to the United States^ and finally located in Georgia. Junius May was born in Daviess County, Ky., Sepl^ 3, 1836. His grandparents, John and Sallie May, settled in Knottsville Precinct at a very early day. He had a family of five sons and. five danghters — William, Richard, Isaac, John, James M., Mar- garet, Eliza, Rebecca, Sarah and Emily. James M. is the only Digitized by Microsoft® 746 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. one now living in Knottsville Precinct. John settled in Murray Precinct in the fall of 1833, where he died in 1838. He married Elizabeth, daughter of James Davis, who was born May 3, 1813, and still lives in Murray Precinct. They had three children — James, born in 1834, and died in 1850 ; Junius, subject of this sketch, and Sarah M., born in 1838, married Dr. H. P. Taylor, and died in Hartford, Ohio County, in January, 1874. Junius was ed- ucated in the county schools and in Owensboro. In 1850 he and his brother James took charge of the farm and he is still living on it. There are 300 acres of well-improved land. In 1865 he mar- ried Maggie, daughter of Harrison Taylor, of Ohio County. She died in 1866. In January, 1880, he married Adelaide, daughter of Lewis Sublette, and a native of Daviess County, born Dec. 22, 1855. They have two children — Sallie and Homer. Richard May (deceased) was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 1799, and was a son of John and Sarah May. He came to Knotts- ville, Daviess County, with his father when nineteen years of age. In 1819 he married Mrs. Lucy Davis, daughter of Captain Ben- jamin Fields, and for four or five years after lived in Ohio County. He then came to Murray Precinct and lived on the farm now owned by J. M. Holmes, till 1864. While living there his wife died. He afterward moved to the farm now owned by his youngest daughter, where he died in 1872. His children were — John, Thomas, Thad- dens, Lucy, James, Euphemia and Virginia. Lucy died at the age of sixteen, and John in 1867. Thomas married Hester, daughter of Samuel Johnson. He lived in this precinct two or three years after his marriage and then moved to Louisiana. Thad- deus married Parthenia Barker, of McLean County. In 1856 he removed to Illinois. James married Martha Payne, of Rumsey, McLean County, who died leaving one son — William. He then married his present wife, Mary Hudspeth, of this county, and is now living near South Carrolton, Muhlenburg Co., Ky. Mr. May was a prominent man of his day. He was an industrious and suc- cessful farmer. Alexis J. MoAtee, born April 11, 1814, in Montgomery County, Md., was a son of James and Elizabeth (Elder) McAfee, natives of Maryland.^ His parents came to Kentucky in 1815, locating in Washington County, where his father bought a farm and lived till his death, in 1876. His mother died in 1871. They had a family of twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity. Alexis was their eldest son. He lived with his parents till his marriage, in Digitized by Microsoft® M0KEAT PRECINOT. 747 1835, to Caroline, daughter of Eichard Spaulding, of Washington County, Ky. He then went to farming for himself, and about ten years later moved to Nelson County and bought a farm, where he lived seven or eight years. His wife died in Nelson County. He came to Daviess County in 1856, and in 1858 moved here aiyi bought a farm of 840 acres in Murray Precinct. He married shortly after coming here his second wife, Mrs. Myra Windsor, who lived about two years and a half after their marriage. During the war Mr. McAtee lost heavily in slaves. He was married in October, 1874, to Mrs. Sarah Bennett, his pre,ient wife, and about a, year after sold his farm and moved to Owensboro, where he lived nearly two years. He then moved back to Murray Precinct and bought his present home at Lewis Station. He has been station- imaster for the O. & N. Ry. four years. For the past six years he has been Postmaster of Utica. He is the father of eight children, six now living, two sons and four daughters. Two daughters live in Richmond, Va.; the other children are residents of Kentucky. Benjamin S. McCormick was born in Mason ville Precinct, Da- viess Co., Ky., May 27, 1833. His father, John F. McCormick, was born in Ohio County, Ky., Oct. 3, 1809. He was married Aug. 16, 1832, to Sallie S. Young, a native of Muhlenburg County, Ky., born Feb. 20, 1814. He soon after came to Daviess County and settled on a farm in Masonville Precinct, where he died Nov. 6, 1850. His wife died April 28, 1843, leaving three children — Benjamin S., Francis E. and Sallie L., Benjamin being the only one now living. July 22, 1845, he married Sarah M., daughter of Joseph Miller. He was a Methodist minister, and a great por- tion of his time was spent in preaching. After the death of his father Benjamin S. remained with his stepmother, and after her death, two years later, he went to Muhlenburg County and re- mained five years. He then returned to the farm and kept bach- elor's hall two years. March 11, 1858, he married Sallie B., -daughter of S. W. Boehm, and a native of Franklin County, Ky., born June 4, 1840. In 1859 Mr. McCormick bought his present farm of 160 acres. In the spring of 1860 he joined the Green JBrier Baptist church. In 1867 he was elected Magistrate of Mur- ray Precinct, and successfully managed the affairs of this office till 1874. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have four children — John F., born Feb. 1, 1859; Samuel W., Aug. 29, 1860; Benjamin E., Sept. 12, 1862; Willey B., April 2, 1865. Digitized by Microsoft® 748 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Charles L. Mobberly was born on the old homestead farm of his father, in Masonville Precinct, May 2, 1851. His father, W. P. Mobberly, was born in Virginia, and came to Ohio County, Ky., when a child. He came to Daviess County at an early day. He was married here to Lucy Haynes, a native of Daviess County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Mobberly had a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters. Charles L. was the fifth son and seventh child. He was twenty-one years old when his father died. He remained on the farm with his mother until his mar- riage to Sue E. Gordon, Nov. 17, 1875. She was born in Mason- ville Precinct, Sept. 4, 1853, and was a daughter of Jackson and Sarah A. (Taylor) Gordon. After his marriage Mr. Charles L. Mobberly settled on a farm in Mun-ay Precinct, No. 1, where he remained two years; then moved on the farm of his brother, J. H. Mobberly, in Masonville Precinct, and remained here until January, 1883, whon he moved on his present farm in Murray Precinct, where he owns ninety-two acres, seventy-five under culti- vation. He and wife are members of the Baptist church. They have one daughter — Olive, born July 11, 1881. In politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Horace Greeley for Presi- dent of the United States. Eugene O^Flynn was born in Owensboro, Ky., April 15, 1834. His father, Timothy O'Flynn, was a native of Ireland and came to America, settling in Owensboro, in March, 1834. He was by trade a wagon-maker, but his health failing, in 1847 he moved to Mur- ray Precinct and purchased a farm, where he died in 1851. He was married in 1833 to Frances Clary, daughter of John Clary, one of the earliest settlers of Owensboro. They had a family of six children — Eugene, Richard, John, Michael, Mary Ann (now Mrs. Mulhall), and Elizabeth (now Mrs. Murphy). Jolm and Michael are deceased. Eugene was married Feb. 14, 1854, to Parthenia, daughter of Mansfield Martin. He remained at home two years after liis marriage, and then purchased his present farm of 109 acres, near Lewis Station. Politically he was reared a Democrat and voted with that party till 1868 ; but since then has confined himself to no party. In August, 1874, he was elected Magistrate of Murray Precinct, and re-elected to his third term in August, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. O'Flynn have four sons — Ferdinand, Findley, Claud and Thomas M. Charles A. Owe7i, son of Daniel and Mary (Allen) Owen, was born Oct. 20, 1816, in Breckinridge County, Ky. His father Digitized by Microsoft® MUBKAT PBECINCT. 749 was a native of North Carolina, bora Jan. 7, 1790, and came to Kentucky with his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Owen, when a boy, and settled in Breckinridge County, where he was reared. His mother was a native of Mercer County, Ky., and a daughter of Charles Allen. After their marriage his parents settled in Breck- inridge County, but in 1826 came to Daviess County and bought the farm of 196 acres, where his father still resides, aged ninety- three years. His mother died a number of years ago. There was a family of fourteen children, ten now living. Charles A. lived with his father till he had paid for his place, and in 1844 bought himself a farm of 161 acres. He kept bachelor's hall three years, and in 1S47 married Mrs. Elizabeth Brashear, a native of Nelson County, Ky., and a daughter of Wm. N. Eobinson. They have five children, three sons and two daughters, and one son of Mrs. Owens, by her former husband. Mr. Owen was reared in the faith of the Baptist church, and early in life connected himself with that denomiuation. Philander Read, born in Logan County, Ky., Jan. 3, 1836, was a son of Degrafton and Eliza (May) Head, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. His father died in Logan County, in 1838 aged thirty-eight years, and his mother in Owensboro, in 1840. There was a family of eight children — Adaline (deceased), Hiram E,, Margaret (deceased), Emeline, Elizabeth, Agnes, Philander and Osborne D. Philander came to Owensboro with his mother when four years old, where he was reared and educated. In 1848 he began to learn the saddler's trade and served an apprenticeship of five years. He then attented school a year in Evansville, Ind., after which he worked at his trade till 1875, when he purchased a farm of 300 acres in Murray Precinct, where he still resides. He was married in 1856 to Margaret, daughter of John Wallace, ot Owensboro. She died in 1870, leaving three children — William E., Lee W. and Hiram A. In 1871 Mr. Pead married Mary, daughter of J. W. and Elizabeth (Perry) Funk, of Owensboro. She is a native of New Orleans, as is also her mother, her father being a native of Jefferson County. Mr. and Mrs. Read have four children — Maggie E., Joseph E., Charles H. L. and Mary E. Mr. Read was one of the Trustees of the lower ward of Owensboro and was instrumental in establishing a public school in that ward, which resulted in the present public-school system of the place. He .has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church fifteen years, and has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school several years. Digitized by Microsoft® 750 HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. James William Russell, son of Nathaniel and Ann Jemima (Cooper) Russell, was born Jan. 20, 1841, in Shelby County, Ky., and came to Daviess County with his parents when ten years of age. His educational advantages were limited to the early log- cabin school during the winter months. Oct. 12, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-sixth Kentucky Infantry, U. S. A., com- manded by Colonel S. G. Burbridge. The regiment left Owens- boro for Calhoon, in November, and the following February went to Nashville; from there to Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, luka, Hunts- ville, Ala., Battle Creek, Tenn., and across the Cumberland Mount- ains to Kentucky after General Bragg. They followed him back to Tennessee and the regiment then went to Nashville, Tenn. ; from there they went to Bowling Green, Russellville, back to Bowling Green, and to Camp Nelson. Here Mr. Kussell veteranized in the same regiment and came home for a thirty-days' furlough. During the summer of 1864 they were mounted, but at Bowling Green they were dismounted, and sent to Nashville. Dec. 16, 1864, the reg- iment, under General Thomas, went into battle at Nashville against the Confederate forces commanded by General Hood. In this bat- tle Mr. Russell was wounded in the left foot aod sent to the hos- pital at Jefllersonville, Ind., and a short time after to Evansville^ Ind., where he remained till June, 1865, when he re-joined his regiment at Salisbury, N. C. The regiment was mustered out at that place, and came to Louisville for discharge. In October, 1865, Mr. Russell married Susan, daughter of William May, and bought the farm where he now resides. He has 103 acres under a good state of cultivation. Politically he was reared a Whig, but at present does not confine himself to any party. He has been a member of Green Brier church since October, 1856. John B. Russell, son of Nathaniel M. and Angemima (Cooper) Eussell, was born in Shelby County, Ky., Dec. 30, 1836. His father was also a native of Shelby County, and moved to Daviess County with his family in 1860, and settled in Murray Precinct. After a residence here of about thirty-two years, he moved to Nash- ville. His wife died July 1, 1878, aged sixty-one years. They had a family of eleven children — Benjamin C. (deceased), John B., George W., James W., Sidney M., Zachariah T., Melissa, David, Elizabeth E., Joanna (deceased), and one that died in infancy. John B. was nearly fourteen years old when his parents came to Daviess County. He was educated in the common log school house, but the time allowed him to devote to this purpose was lim- Digitized by Microsoft® MURRAY PREOINOT. 761 ited, as his labor was required on the farm. In Febrnary, 1858, he hired out as a farm hand to Elijah Hatfield and worked for him till the following October. During the latter month he bought a portion of his present farm, consisting of 100 acres, and has since made an addition of about fifteen acres/ Dec. 30, 1868, he married Tabitha Jane Boyd, a native of Daviess County, and a daughter of William Boyd, and moved on his farm. His wife died Jan. 19, 1880, leaving three children — William Robert, Frances Ann and Nathaniel M. July \1, 1882, Mr. Russell married Nancy R. King, daughter of Newton King. In November, 1856, he became a member of the Green Brier church. In politics Mr. Russell wa» reared a Whig, and cast his first Presidential vote for Breckin- ridge, but since the close of the war has affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. Philip P. Ryon, son of Philip and Marcia (Cheak) Ryon, was born in Clark County, Ky., July 4, 1814. His father was a native of Maryland but removed to Virginia when about twelve years of age. He served through the Revolutionary war under General Washington. He came to Kentucky at an early day and settled on a farm in Clark County, where he died in 1850. His wife was a native of Virginia and died about 1852. There was a family of seven sons and one daughter. Mr. Ryon also had three daughters and one son by a former marriage. Philip P. was the youngest of the family. When sixteen years old he was Deputy under his brother, John B., who was Sheriff of Clark County, and remained in that capacity four years. In 1834 he went to South Alabama and clerked in a dry-goods store until 1837, when he returned to Kentucky and lived with his father until 1843, when he married MaHha Cornelison, daughter of John Cornelison, and went on a farm in Madison County, Ky. He remained there seven years and then moved to Taylor County, where he lived six years. In 1859 he moved to Fanning County, Texas, but only remained a year on account of sickness in his family. In the fall of 1860 he re- turned to Kentucky, arriving at Owensboro, Nov. 10. He then purchased a farm of 256 acres in Murray Precinct where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Ryon have nine children — John C, Will- iam B., Elizabeth, Pattie, Mildred, Mary, Garland, Price and Lou. Price is assisting his parents in carrying on the farm. OHhert Skillman was born Oct. 26, 1819, near Princeton, N- J., a son of Samuel and Margaret Skillman. His father died when he was small, and a few years after his mother married James Rob- Digitized by Microsoft® T52 HISTOBY.OF DAVIESS COUNTY. inson, both of whom are residents of Daviess County. When Gil- bert was seventeen years old he began an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. He went with his "boss" to Meticello (since changed to Godfrey), 111., to build a female seminary. In the fall of 1837 he left there and went down to Natchez, Miss., and worked during the winter. In the spring he went to New York and while there visited his old home in New Jersey. He remained in New York till the spring of 1840, following his trade. He then went as carpenter of a vessel from New York to New Orleans, and from there in the same vessel to Liverpool, England, returning on the same vessel to New York. He then paid another visit to his home in New Jersey. In the fall of 1840 he took passage in a vessel from New York to New Orleans, where he worked at his trade during that winter. In the spring of 18 il he left New Orleans, and came to Owensboro, Louisville and Cincinnati looking for a suitable place to work at his trade, and finally returned to Owens- boro, making the entire trip by water. He worked there during the summer. In the fall he went to Eumsey, McLean Co., and worked till the next summer. He then went back to New York via Cincinnati, Erie Canal, to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and worked there during the winter. In the spring of 1843 he went from New York by ship around to New Orleans and from there came up to Owensboro; worked there a short time and then came into the country and worked at his trade through the country for about eighteen months; then made another trip back to New Jer- sey after his father and mother, who came in 1845. Mr. Skillman was married Dec. 23, 1846, to Sallie May, a native of Daviess County, daughter of "Wm. May. After his marriage Mr. Skillman bought a farm on the Harmans Ferry road, near Newville, where he lived till the fall of 1864. He then sold his place and purchased his present farm, where he has since resided. In 1876 Mr. S. made a trip to the Centennial and visited his old home in New Jersey. He lost his wife May 24, 1879. She was the mother of six children, four of whom are now living, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Skillman has been a member of the Baptist church for about twenty years. Geo. W. Talbott, son of James S. and Elizabeth (Stone) Talbott, natives of Tennessee, was born in Granger County, Tenn., Nov. 2, 1832. His parents came to Daviess County in 1849 and located in Murray Precinct, his father buying a tract of 700 or 800 acres where Lewis Station now stands, and followed farming till his Digitized by Microsoft® MCRBAT PRECINCT. 753 death, in 1866, at the age of sixty-seven. Hie mother died six months later, aged fifty-four years. There was a family of eleven children, four now deceased. George W. had very limited educa- tional i.dvantagep, the common schools of the early days being of a very inferior character. He was married in 1857 to Sallie E., daughter of Henry Howard. She was the third of a family of fourteen children, one deceased. After his marriage Mr. Talbott settled on a farm his father gave him, where he lived seven years. He sold this farm to Reuben Gill and bought the one adjoining. Four years later he sold his farm and openea a general store at Riley's Station, McL jsn County, which after two years he sold to his brother-in-law, Louis Ho.vard, and moved to Sangertowii, where he rented a farm and lived two years. He then moved to Grissom's Landing, but his family being afflicted vrith ague, he was obliged to leave there and moved to the Pate farm, near Green Brier church, where he lived six years, when he bought his mother's dowery in the old homestead of thirty-one and a fourth acres, near Lewis Station. Mr. Talbott served as Deputy Sheriff, at the same time collecting taxes two years, and has been Constable two years. For several years he has been buying tobacco for different parties in Owensboro. Mr. and Mrs. Talbott have ten children — Eno8 M., Henry M. 0., Geneva, Eva R., Eliza, Anna, May, Will- iam H., Robert M. and and Forrest. Mr. and Mrs. Talbott and two children are members of the Baptist church. Benjamin Tanner, born April 6, 1827, in Daviess County, Ky., within a mile of where he now lives, was a son of Thomas and Anna (Davis) Tanner, natives of Virginia. His father was born in 1790 and came to Daviess County when quite young, where he died Nov. 8, 1860. His mother died in 1878. They were the parents of twelve children, six now living — William, Benjamin, Margaret, Esther, Nancy and "Victoria. Mr. Tanner owns 260 acres of fine land, partly in Daviess and partly in McLean County. In 1865 he went to Henderson County and lived seventeen years, returning to his present home in 1882. He has always been a farmer and is one of the sturdy and thrifty citizens of this county. He' deals extensively in stock, raising it for the market. He was married Aug. 5, 1855, to Sallie Howard, a native of Daviess County, born in September, 1831. They have seven children — Edward P., Thomas E., Samuel H, Hugh T., James W., Benjamin and Sallie. Mr. Tanner is a member of the Baptist church. 48 Digitized by Microsoft® 754 HISTOBY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Charles W. Thomas, born in New Orleans, La., May 13, 1830, was a son of Joseph and Eliza (de Weissenfels) Thomas, his father a native of Maryland and his mother of Kew York City. His mother's father was an officer in the Revolutionary army and an intimate friend of General Washington, and was a son of Baron Frederick de Weissenfels, of Prussia. His father was a Colonel in the war of 1812 and was in the battle of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815. He was a tobacco inspector in New Orleans, and died there in 1832. There was a family of five children, two now living — Joseph and Charles W. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Thomas married H. A. Hobbs, of Nelson County, Ky., and moved to Daviess County. Charles W. was reared in this county and educated at St. Joseph's College, Bardstown. He received a com- mercial education at Cincinnati. In 1848 Mr. Thomas, in com- pany with James H. Blair, started in the dry-goods business in Owensboro. After two years he went into partnership with his brother in a flour mill and dry-goods store, under the same roof Oct. 1, 1852, their mill and store were destroyed by fire, by which Mr. Thomas met with a hea\y loss. A short time after, he went to Bardstown and lived twelve years, working on a farm and keep- ing books for difierent me-chants in town. In April, 1864, he re- turned to Daviess County and lived on a farm, near Owensboro, three years. In 1867 he purchased a farm in Murray Precinct, where be still resides. He has served as Deputy County Clerk for Daviess County fourteen years. He has taught five sessions in the public schools of this neighborhood. He was married May 14, 1850, to Mary A. Wilson, a native of Washington, D. C, born Sept. 22, 1830. She was a daughter of Tyler and Emily (Craw- ford) Wilson, natives of Maryland, who moved to Nelson County, Ky., in 1831. Her father engaged extensively in farming till his death, May 6, 1853. Her mother died July 13, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had ten children, seven living — Charles T., Emily, Benjamin M., Ophelia, John H., Maggie and William H. Mary Eliza died at the age of sixteen. Josiah Trunnell, born in 1826, in Bullitt County, Ky., was a son of John and Elizabeth (Wells) Trunnell, both natives of Ma- ryland. They died in Bullitt County, the father in 1847 and the mother several years previous. There was a family of thirteen children, three now living, two sons and one daughter. Josiah was reared in Bullitt County, and when sixteen years old learned the trade of a carpenter, which he worked at till twenty-one. He Digitized by Microsoft® MtlEEAT PEKCINOT. IBS then enlisted in the Mexican war, and served twelve months. He returned to Bullitt County, and was married in 1848 to Julia S., daughter of Moses Rouse. He went to farming, and in 1861 came to Daviess County and located in Murray Precinct, on what is now the Small farm. He remained there three years and then bought his present farm, where he has 110 acres of well-improved land. He also has 133f acres of the bottoms, known as the Hatfield farm. Mr. and Mrs. Trunnell have had nine children, seven living — Zuilia, James S., Mary J., John, Emma B., Ellen N. and Josiah. Henry died at the age of thirty-three, and Chailes aged four. Mr. and Mrs. Trunnell are members of the Christian church. John H. Wilhite, born in Olden County, Ky., Aug. 1, 1846, is a son of Hardimon G. and Mary Ann (Litel) Wilhite, natives of Olden and Woodford counties, Ky. His parents moved to Mc- Lean County in 1858, where his father died when he was fifteen years old. John H. worked on a farm until 1872, when he com- menced to run a grist-mill. In 1874 he formed a partnership with Aaron Leet, and they continued together till 1877, when their mill was destroyed by fire. He then worked in a saw-mill for other parties till 1881, when he began again in a grist-mill. In 1882 he came to Daviess County, and in connection with Mr. Leet put up the mill they now own. March 11, 1872, he married Nettie B., daughter of J. B. Green, of Evansville, Ind. Three children have been born to thiem, only two living — Jessie V. and an infant son. Claud P. died Feb. 26, 1882, aged a year and a half Mr. Wilhite is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Jeptha Williams, born Dec. 25, 1819, in Screven County, Ga., was a son of John and Sarah (Akins) Williams, natives of Bulloch County, Ga. His parents moved to Columbia County, Fla., about 1828 or 1830, and resided there till their death. They had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. The mother died when Jeptha was about fifteen years old. When twenty-two years of age he left Florida, and came via the Gulf of Mexico, N"ew Or- leans and the Mississippi River to Evansville, Ind. From there he went to Gibson County, Ind., and remained two months; then went to ,St. Joe, Mo., and remained three months, and returned to Gibson County, where he followed farming eighteen years. When the war broke out he came to Kentucky, arriving in Owensboro in May, 1861. He went to Panther Creek and remained during the war. In the spring of 1866 he went back to Owensboro and lived till 1873, working at wagon-making, when he moved to Utica and Digitized by Microsoft® 789 HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. bought a lot, building a house and living here till 1882. He then went back to Oweneboro, but remained only three months, return- ing to Utica. He was married in 1843 to Marj Ann, daughter of Samuel M. and Susan Zimmerman, of Gibson County, Ind. They have two daughters. Mr. Williams has been a member of the Christian church twenty-three years. Jourdan O. Wells, born in Shelby County, Ky., in October, 1837, was a son of Grayson and Julia (Holman) Wells, natives of Vir- ginia and Indiana respectively. His parents came to Daviess County in 1839 and settled in Masonville, where they bought 160 acres of land and lived five or six years and then moved to the Green Brier neighborhood. In 1852 they moved to Panther Creek, where they died a few months after, witliin twenty-four hours of each other. They had seven children, three now living — Jourdan, Mary Jane and Zachariah Taylor. Mildred, James W., Ellen and Bertba are deceased. Jourdan was reared in Daviess County and lived with his father till his death. He was married in December, 1865, to Sibby Elizabeth, daughter of O. O. Brown. They have had nine children — Joseph E., Oscar, Mary J., Harriet, Nancy, Lina, William, George O. (deceased) and Lucretia. In 1859 Mr. Wells bought a farm of fifty -nine acres, with very few improve- ments, and now has 140 acres well improved. He enlisted Ang. 6, 1862, in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, U. S. A., and served ti)' the close of the war. Daniel E. Teiser, born May 17, 1825, in Todd County, Ky., was a son of Adam R. and Susan F; (Walker) Yeiser. His fatiier was a native of Pennsylvania and came with his parents when a child, to Danville, Ky., where he was reared. He married Susan F. Walker, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Hugh Walker, in Adair County. He settled in Todd County, where he lived a number of years and then moved back to Adair County. He after- ward lived in Boyle and Daviess counties and died in Adair County in 1874. His wife died in 1850. Daniel T. learned the tanner's trade with his father but never worked at it after leaving home. In 1847 he went to farming with an unce, Eichard Walker, his worldly possessions being his clothes, fifty cents and a horse. The next year he worked with another uncle, John Roberts, and the following spring, Ma^ch 11, 1849, he married Helen K. New- ton, daughter of Kirtlcy Newton. Her father died when she was an infant and she was reared by her grandparents. The first year alter his marriage he rented land, and the following year bought a Digitized by Microsoft® MtTREAY PEECINCT. 757 farm in Murray Precinct. He lived there three years, but being unable to pay for it, returned it to its former owner and bought 100 acres adjoining, where he lived six years, adding the second 100 acres to it while living there. At the expiration of that, time he sold his place and bought 147 acres where he now lives, and where he has 350 acres after giving his daughter eighty when she was mar- ried. It was all wild land when he moved on it, but now he has it under good cultivation. March 23, 1860, he was ordained to preach in the Baptist church. His father was an Episcopalian and his mother a Methodist. He joined the Baptist church in 1858. The day he was ordained minister he baptized five converts and has since been very successful in his ministerial work. He has five children, four sons and one daughter. Two are married and living near their parents. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XXIV. OAKFORD PRECINCT. This precinct is bounded as follows : Beginning on Green River, where the Daviess County line corners, thence with the Henderson County line to the Ohio River, thence up the Ohio River, including island and to include John Gaw's, thence to tlie Nelson place, excluding same, thence to the old Roost road, ex- cluding J. W. Shipp's and including D. Wade's, thence to the east line of Q. Park's land, thence with said line to the Big Pond, thence with the Big Pond and Pond drain to Rhodes Creek, and down Rhodes Creek and Green River to the beginning. The northwestern part of Daviess County, lying between Green River and the Ohio, and adjoining Henderson County, is embraced in Oakford Precinct. The Henderson County line formerly ran about fonr miles east from where it now runs; but on account of greater convenience in reaching Oakford as a county seat, a part was taken from Henderson and added to Daviess County. This precinct consists mostly of low lands, in which are ponds and swamps. In an early day this was a great place for hunting. jThe citizens are improving the lands here by drainage. Several fine farms lie along the Green and Ohio rivers. There is no coal in any part of the precinct. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Among the early settlers in this precinct were John S. McFar- land, Charles Hebbard, James Hill, James Allen, William and Gustavus Talbott, Mrs. Stembridge and William Perkins. From the Henderson road to the Ohio River was known as Buzzard's Roost, so called from the peculiar birds that infested this region. George Riley settled along the Ohio River; also the Drew family, who were half Indians, the Bunch family, the Pecans and War- nald families. Wesley Galloway came here in a very early day. He was a good citizen and farmer. Most of the people along the Ohio River were rough and indolent. Most of their time was spent in hunting, and chopping cord-wood to supply steamboats traversing the Ohio. A great share of their money was spent for (758) Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFOED PKECINCT. 759 whisky. The b^tter class of men were good and prosperous farm- ers. About thirty-five years ago milk-sickness was very prevalent among the people, cattle and hogs in the Roost, and was a great drawback in the settling of this part of the county. The place now occupied by Zack Taylor was first settled by Buck Robinson, who was quite an original character. He opened up a little farm there. Among the first physicians who practiced in this part of the county was Dr. Christopher Wilson, who resided on the Henderson road. He was originally from Hawesville, aud graduated at Louis- ville, Ky. He formed a partnership with Dr. J. F. Kimbley, and died a few months afterward. Dr. Kimbley continued the practice for twelve years. One of the first preachers was Isham Allen, who resided in Sorghotown, but preached all along the Ohio River. He held services at the house of Wesley Galloway. The first church erected was a union church, built in 1856, but was occupied principally by the Methodists and Presbyterians. The land upon which the church was built was given by Mrs. Stembridge and her daughter. Miss Minerva Stembridge, who took the most active part in raising the necessary funds to build the church. It was in- tended for a Cumberland Presbyterian church, but the design was never strictly carried out. The early Cumberland preachers were Obed Smith, Samuel Calhoon, Craven Boowell and Charles Gates. The Methodists held services in the church as soon as it was com- pleted. A new structure was erected in the spring of 1882, and is also occupied by both denominations. The Catholics were among the first religious denominations in Oakford. grissom's landing. This point is situated on the Ohio River, nine miles below Owensboro, and was named after Alfred Grissora, who came here iu 1856. He came to the county in 1828 or 1829, first settling in Owensboro. The Eagle Distillery is located here, and is owned by T. J. Monarch. It is the finest distillery in Daviess County. There are at present two stores, a hotel, postoffice, and U. S. Express Com- pany agency. BIRK CITY. This enterprising little village is situated on Green River, twen- tv-two miles above its moutli, and twelve miles west of Owensboro. Digitized by Microsoft® 760 HIBTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. It was founded by Joseph A. Birk, who came to this place from Cloverportin 1857. Amid many discouragements Mr. Birk suc- ceeded in laying the foundation for the town, and he is still living to see the fruits of his labors. The place now contains three stores, one blacksmith shop and one tobacco factory, built by Mr. Birk. It was first built for a saw-mill in 1857, and used as such ten years. It was then used as a distillery three years. In 1870 it was converted into a tobacco factory; size 60x70 feet. The first store was opened by William Hollace, in a house built by Mr. Jonas Birk for that purpose. The present merchants are C. E- Birk, L. P. Birk, and C. B. Lancaster. The first blacksmith was Peter Karrick, who came here with Mr. Birk. The Eagle Distill- ing Company have a still here, together with bonded warehouses. A postoflBce was established here in 1861, and Jonas Birk was appointed Postmaster. He was succeeded by F. J. Birk, and in 1879 L. P. Birk, the present incumbent, was appointed. The vil- lage has a population of 200. John Gaw*s tobacco house was built iu 1877; size, 40x80 feet. In the fall of 1879 he built an addition, 42x90 feet. The house now has a cipacity of about 500,000 poun(is. The cost of the whole was about $25,000. CHURCHES.- Saptiat Church was organized in October, 1876, in a house built by F.J. Birk for a store, and occupied by him about thirteen years. It was then sold to the Baptists and converted into a church. Rev. D. E. Yeiser was the first preacher, and has continued their pas-' tor up to the present time. Previous to the organization of the church, services were held in private houses and in the school- house. Rev. Williams, a Methodist who was preaching in this circuit, was among the first to preach for this congregation. St. Peter'' s Catholic Church. — The projectors of this church were John Gaw and N. M. Lancaster. Through the efforts of these gentle- men a meeting was called and held at Oakford, and finally a second meeting, which resulted in raising the required funds to build the church. There was some diflBculty in locating the place where the chtireh was td be built. In the first place the subscriptions de- clared it should be located at Bernard Hill, and a picnic was gotten tip to raise funds to build the church at this point. Others were in favor of locating it somewhere else. However, it was decided to build the church at Bernard Hill. Father Eugene Callahan, then of Owensboro, and Thos. J. Monarch, attended the meetings. Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFOED PRECINCT. 761 Tlios. J. Monarch, John Gaw, W. M. Lancaster, J. C. Grant and T. C. Hill were the building committee. The church was put up in 1873, at a cost of about $4,000. It was dedicated bj Bishop McClosky, of 'Louisville, and Father Brady, then stationed at Owensboro, preached the sermon. The first Pastor was Father T. P. Faunt, who was here from November, 1873, till the spring ot 1880, when Father Croghn, the present Pastor, took charge. The congregation now numbers about sixty families. The church is very nicely furnished, the pews and furniture being of fine mate- rial and finish. ELECTIONS. For politics of various parties see Lower Town Precinct. 1861, June 20: Congressman — J. T. Bur.h, 67; J. S. Jackson, 46. 1861, Aug. 5 : State Treasurer— G. Terry, 78 ; J. H. Garrard, 72. Senator — J. B. Vance, 85; Wm. Anthony, 83. Represent- atives to Legislature--C. T. Noel, 86 ; G. H. Yeaman, 85. Con- stable— A. Bristow, 74. 1862, Aug. 4 : Appellate Judge— R. A. Williams, 29. Circuit Judge^James Stuart, 8 ; H. B. Wall, 32. Presiding Judge— T. L. Beers, 19 ; A. G. Botts, 16. Commonwealth's Attorney — John Chapeze, 26 ; J. J. Harrison, 5. County Attorney — H. S. McFar- land, 33. Circuit Clerk — Joseph Thomas, 36. County Clerk — John O'Brien, 35. Assessor— J. W. Onan, 9 ; J. J. Talbott, 5 ; Y. L. Moseley, 23. Surveyor— N. W. Scott, 22. Coroner— J. W. Rosa, 23. 1862, Oct. 27 : Congressman — G. H. Yeaman, 9 ; Edward R. Weir, 8. 1862, Dec. 8 : Representative to Legislature — J. S. McFarland, 23. 1 863, Aug. 3 : Governor — T. E. Bramlotte, 29. Congressman — G. H. Yeaman, 29 ; J. H. McHenry. 4. Representative to Leg- islature— J. S. McFarland, 32. Justices — James Hill, 33 ; W. B. Young, 32. 1864, Nov. 8 : President— Geo. B. McClellan, 49 ; A. Lin- coln, 3. 1865, Aug. 7 : Congressman — Geo. H. Yeaman, 10 ; B. C. Rit- ter, 46. State Treasurer — W. S. Neale, 8 ; James H. Garrard, 14. Senator — A. D. Cosby, 17. Representative to Legislature — T. Maddux, 9 ; Josiah Veech, 44. Digitized by Microsoft® 762 HISTORY OF DAVIBSS COUNTr. 1866, Aug. 6 : Appellate Clerk— E. H. Hobson, 20 ; A. Duval, 94. County Judge— E. C. Berry, 20 ; J. S. McFarland, 26 ; G. W. Triplett, 67. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 21 ; J. M. Hughes, 23 ; B. Duncan, 40 ; T. C. Jones, 22. Sheriff— W. H. Perkins, 109 ; E. A. Hathaway, 4. Connty Attorney — A. II. Tay- lor, 73 ; Thomas Crutcher, 21. Coroner^-H. O'Brien, 24. As- sessor—J. W. Onan, 98 ; J. J. Talbott, 2 ; J. T. Moseley, 3. For railroad tax, 25 ; against, 61. 1867, April 15 : For county stock of $250,000 in the Owensboro & Russellville Eailroad, 16 ; against. 41. 1867, May 4 : Congressman — John T. Brown, 48 ; S. E. Smith, 3. Justices — J. Hill, 47 ; Thos. Monarch, 48. Constable — Charles Scolsky, 21. 1867, Aug. 5 : Governor — J. L. Helm, 79. Circuit Judge — G. W. Williams, 45 ; J. L. Johnson, 40. Common Pleas Judge — C. G. Wintersmith, 15 ; L. P. Little, 67. Representative to Legislat- ure—J. Veech, 38 ; J. W. Moseley, 46 ; H. C. McPherson, 5. Constable — A. S. Stembridge, elected. 1868, Aug. 3 : Governor — J. W. Stevenson, 107. Circuit Judge~G. W. Williams, 94. Circuit Clerk— J. P. Thompson, 91 ; M. S. Ogden, 18. Commonwealth's Attorney — Baker Boyd, 74; G. W. Swoope, 30. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 110. Surveyor— J. W. Sutherland, 72 ; Wilfred Carico, 10. 1868, Nov. 3 : President— H. Seymour, 104 ; U. S. Grant, 4. Congressman — W. N. Sweeney, 101 ; Samuel Langley, 4. 1869, Aug. 2 : State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 58 ; E. R. Wing, 13. Senator — Ed. Hawes, 75. Representative to Legislature — C. Griffith, 73 ; J. W. Gabbert, 12. Connty Attorney— V. T. Crawford, 66. Sheriff — A. J. McAtee, 7 ; J. G. Harrison, 16. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 25. Constable — J. C. Sandsberry, 88. For school tax, 27 ; against, 45. 1871, Aug. 1 : Appellate Judge— Wm. Lindsay, 109 ; R. K. Williams, 1. Circuit Judge — M. F. Cofer, 110. County Judge — G. W. Triplett, 114 ; A. G. Botts, 44. County Clerk— T. Jones, 115 ; J. K. P. Moore, 33. County Attorney— W. T. Ellis, 113. Sheriff— W. H. Scott, 116 ; T. Maddux, 30. Surveyor— J. W. Sutherland, 116 ; A. M. Mayo, 31. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 106 ; R. J. Wootten, 31. Coroner— A. J. McAtee, 116 ; W. J. Littell, 31. Justices — Louis Birk, 116 ; N. M. Newman, 118. 1870, Nov. 8 : Congressman — H. D. McHenry, 56 ; M. J. Rork, 1. Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFORD PRECINCT. 763 1871, May 6 : Justices — N. M. Newman, 63 ; Alfred Grissom 46. Constable— Louis P. Birk, 62. 1871, Aug. 7: Governor— P. H. Leslie, 124; John M.Harlan, 46. Eepresentative to Legislature — C. Griffith, 117; S. M. Jesse, 7; G. H. Roberts, 46. 1872, Aug. 6: County Clerk— Jo Thomas. 76; J. G. McFarland, 37. SherifiF— W. H. Perkins, 85. Constable— F. E. Birk, 80. 1872, J^ov. 5: President— H. Greeley, 90; U. S. Grant, 64. 1873, May 3: Constable— F. E. Birk, 37. 1873, Aug. 4: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 89. Senator— E. Hawes, 75; G. W. Swoope, 62; G. W. Jolly, 1. Representative to Legislature— Ben Stout, 90; R. W. McFarland, 20; H. Megill, 3; H. T. Aud, 58. 1874, Aug. 3: Appellate Clerk— T. C. Jones, 137; J. B. Coch- ran, 17. Circuit Judge — L. P. Little, 103; J. Montgomery, 18; Jas. Stuart, 41. | Commonwealth Attorney — E. H. Brown, 61; Jo. Haycraft, 85. Circuit Clerk— F. F. Conway, 201. County Judge — G. W.Triplett, 128; G. W. Jolly, 106. County Attorney— "W. T. Ellis, 155. County Clerk- M. S. Mattingly, 208. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 155. Coroner— George W. Mathis, 122; Crask, 2. Sur- veyor— Robert Frey, 144. Assessor — W. T. Aull, 148. 1874, l>lov. 3: Congressman — J. Y.Brown, 26; George Smith, 7. 1875, May 1: Justices— N. M. J^^ewman, 177; J. W. Elder, 116; T. J. Monarch, 67. Constable— Joel Stinnett, 134; F. E. Birk, 99. 1875, Aug. 2: Governor — J. B. McCreary, 91; J. M. Harlan, 42. Representative to Legislature — W. J. Taylor, 93; J.G.Ford, 87; A. J. Philpot, 6. Surveyor— C. W. Gordon, 85. 1876, Aug. 2: Circuit Judge — G. W. Ray, 35; J. A. Murray, 192. Sheriff— J. H. Gates, 134; R. R. Coome8,100. For road law, 11; against, 204. Justices— L. P. Birk, 161; G. W. Mattingly, 26; W. M. Wilhite, 35. Constable— J. N. Stinnett, 186; J, A. Peak, 40. 18V6, Nov. 2: President— S. J. Tilden, 162; R. B. Hayes, 66. Congressman — J. McKenzie, 161; J. J. Moore,53. 1877, Aug. 6: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 33; I. H.Trabue, 4. Senator— C. Griffith, 137; V. P. Stateler, 3. Representative to Legislature— C. R. Thorp, 136; A. Craycroft, 134. Cohstable— F. E. Birk, 118; W. L. Cossler, 116. 1878, Aug. 5: Appellate Judge — T. H. Hinds, 197. County Judge— H. W. Scott, 179; Geo. W. Jolly, 77. County Attorney, J. L. McFarland, 201. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 214. Digitized by Microsoft® T64 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS OOUNTT. Sljeriff— E. C. Davis, 202; E. S. "Wortbington, 5. Assessor — G. Allgood, 206; C. W.Thomas, 7. Surveyor— 0. W. Gordon, 197. C5oroner— J. W. Funk, 196. Justices— L. P. Birk, 183; J. W. Williams, 161; J. A. Stembridge, 121. Constable— T. E. Birk, 200; V. P. Miles, 50. 1878, Nov. 6 : Congressman — J. A. McKenzie, 36; J. W. Feighan, 2; F. M. English, 4. 1879, Aug. 4: Governor — L. P. Blackburn, 127; Walter Evans, 46; C. W. Cook, 16. Representative to Legislature — R. W. Mc- Farland, 132; James Rudy, 132; E. S. Worthington, 13; E. O'Fljnn, 12. For Constitutional Convention, 36; against, 22. Justices — Thos. Slieffer, 120; J. A. Stembridge, 85. 1880, Aug. 2: Circuit Judge— J. Stuart, 163; L. P. Little, 50. Commonwealth Attorney — Joe. Noe, 99; Jo. Haycraft, 76. Cir- cuit Clerk— F. F. Conway, 170. Sheriff— E. Davis, 17 1. Sur- veyor— E. Edwards, 141. Justices — J. A. Stembridge, 85; N. M. Newman, 86. Constable, W. E. Purdy, 167. 1880, Nov. 2: President— W. S. Hancock, 111; J. A. Garfield, 91; J. B. Weaver, 3. Representative to Legislature — J. A. Mc- Kenrie, 110: John Feland, 76, C, W. Cook, 10. 1881, Aug. 1 : State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 39. Senator— J. A. Hnnday, 42. Representative to Legislature — J. H. Rudy, 42; G. V. Triplett, 42. Coroner— P. W. Clark, 4; G. Mathis, 9; J. B. Whelan, 13. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 33. 1882, Aug. 7: Judge of Superior Court — J. H. Bowden, 146. Appellate Clerk— Thos. J." Henry, 142; R. T. Jacob, 40. County Judge — ^H. W. Scott, 147. County Attorney — Martin Yewell, 147. County Clerk- M. S. Mattingly, 162. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 120; J. J. Christian, 18. Surveyor— E. Edwards, 147. Coroner— Geo. M. Hayden, 148. Assessor, G. A. Allgood, 160. For school tax, 137; against, 68. Justices — Louis P. Birk, 191; Thos. J. Hagan, 84; Thos. W. Price, 195. Constable—Lewis Costler, 140; James Harl, 113. 1882, Nov. 7: Congressman— Jamee F. Clay, 34; W. M. Fn- qua, 13. Magistrates' Courts : For one justice, the first Monday in March, June, September and December; for the other, the tourth Saturday in these months. Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFOKD PRECINCT. 765 BIOGRAPHICAL. Abram Balee was born 'in Louisville, Ky., July 15, 1836, and lived there till 1838, when he went to Hancock County and lived a short time, and then came to Daviess County, where he is en- gaged in farming. He owns seventy-five .acres three miles south- east of Grissom's Landing, valued at $15 or $20 per acre. He was married June 6, 1861, to Bettie West, who died April 2, 1870, leav- ing one child— Emma, born March 7, 1864. Nov. 12, 1873, he married Mrs. Susan Chatham, a native of Hardin County, Ky., born Nov. 24, 1842. They have two children — Mary J., born Sept. 16, 1879, and William C, Aug. 20, 1882. Mr. Balee is a member of the Baptist and his wife of the M. S. church. He is a member of Owensboro Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His father was in the war of 1812. Jonas A. Birk (deceased), a German by birth, and one of the representative citizens of the county, was born in the city of Weis- baden, the Duchy of Nassau, Aug. 4, 1814. His parents were Nich- olas and Elizabeth (Ritzel) Birk. There were five children in the family, the youngest being Jonas A., whose birth occurred four months before his father's death. He was reared in Weisbaden and there received his education, going to school between the ages of six and fourteen years. When fourteen years of age he left school and began work at the shoemaker's trade. After serving an apprenticesiiip of four years he worked as a journeyman two years more'at the same business. At the age of twenty he was obliged to enter the German army. He served one whole year and one month .each of two succeeding years; the remainder of his term of service he was absent on furlough and hard to work in his native town, where also his regiment was stationed. When in his twenty-third year his discharge from the army was purchased by his aunt, and shortly afterward, in November, 1836, he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Carilon. She was born in the village of Wehr- heim, in the Duchy of Nassau, about thirty miles from Weisbaden, June 28, 1814. Her mother was of German and her father of French descent. The latter died when Elizabeth, the youngest child, was quite young. After his marriage, with a capital of $400, a sum received of his mother, Mr. Birk embarked in business as a shoemaker, and was so engaged for two years in Weisbaden. Meeting with poor success in business Mr. Birk determined to em- igrate to America, strongly against the wishes of his mother and friends. He Ifeft Weisbaden with money in his possession amount- ing to $260. Meeting with difliculty in leaving the Duchy of Nas- Digitized by Microsoft® 766 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. san aad having his wife and one cliild with him, after paying his passage across the Atlantic he found his means about exhausted and he landed in New York City with $2 in his pocket.. Mr. Birk set foot on American soil June 7, 1838. After paying for his sup- per and breakfast his means were gone and he was thrown on his own resources for support. He immediately hunted work which he found in the course of a few hours, and by hard work was soon placed where he could support his family. While in New York he received low wages, but during his residence there of a year and one month he managed to save $100. A sister who had come to America in 1832 was residing at Faliston, Beaver Co., Fenn., and Mr. Birk left New York and established himself in business at that place. He continued here iu business fourteen yearSj having a shop and working a number of hands, which resulted saecessfnlly to himself. He finally sold out, and in May, 1851, settled in Clo- ver Port, Breckinridge Co., Ky., where he carried on business suc- cessfully for over six years. Intent on going onto a farm, he, after looking about, bought 355 acres of land lying along the Graen Biver, part of which is now occupied by the site of Birk City. Ii^ the fall of the same year he brought his &mily and settled on this land. It was then a perfect wilderness and no settlement ha4 been made within a mile. No clearing was visible, and the first tree cut down was where the old mill now stands, since converted into a distillery and tobacco house. A log cabin had been erected previous to the coming of the family, in which they foqnd shelter. A mill was built and work begun of improving the land. Mr. Birk brought with him to Daviess County $5,000 which was in- vested in the mill, and the purchase money of the'land amounted to $3,000 more. Various misfortunes followed: his stock died from sickness, cash could not be obtained for lumber, and heavy expenses were all the while accumulating on his hands, and in a couple of years Mr. Birk found himself involved in serious finan- cial difficulties. In these circumstances he learned who were his friends. Some men stood bravely by him while others were ready to offer no accommodation whatever. Mr. Birk struggled along through his difficulties, striving by erery means within his power to reach a position where he could better command his resources. But no man ever breathed the taint of dishonor upon his character, or thought of him otherwise than an honest and honorable man as do- ing the best for his family and the development and growth of the country. Mr. Birk sufiered heavily during the war by d«preda- Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFORD PRECINCT. 767 tions by rebel guerrillas andTFnion soldiers who occupied the coun- try around him. He struggled hard amid these troubles in the constant strain to find some way out of the difiBculties till at length the daylight appeared. In 1866 he received $2,000 for his tobacco crop, and the corn crop of the succeeding year amounted to $2,000 more. This set Mr. Birk on his feet again. He was soon entirely relieved of his difficulties, and his way since lias been one of pros- perity. He owned over 450 acres of land and was in good finan- cial circumstances. He was a warm Democrat and is the founder of the town which bears his name. His death occurred in October, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Birk were the parents of seven children — Ce- cilia, the oldest daughter, married Peter Rarick and died in Owensboro, in September, 1873; the oldest son, Ferdinand J. Birk, married Rena Smith and is now l)ne of the prominent mer- chants of Ow^ensboro; Amelia C. , married Josiah Gardner and died Feb. 7, 1866; Chas. E. Birk, married Ruth Lendrum; Lewis P., married Mary Newman (the two latter are prominent mer- chants of Birk City) ; Frank E. and Geo. W. constitute the remain- der of Mr. Birk's family. Thomas J. Childreaa, born Feb. 26, 1817, in Halifax County, Va., is a son of Fleming and Elizabeth (Boyd) Childress., In 1839 Fleming Childress moved from Yirginia to Spencer Oonnty, Ind., where he remained till his death. Both he and his wife died in 1845. They had a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Thomas J. Childress was reared in Virginia, and in 1837 went to Spencer County, Ind. The most of his education was received in North Carolina, near the Virginia line. He was married Dec. 7, 1839, to Hannah Arnold, who was born in War. rick County, Ind., Sept. 5, 1818, a daughter of Joseph Arnold. After his marriage Mr. Childress went to farming in Spencer County, and remained there till 1843, when he moved to Daviess County, Ky. He first settled in Lower Town Precinct, and during the winter of 1850 moved into Oakford Precinct, and bought the farm where he now lives, containing 206 acres, situated on the Ohio River. Mr. C. has resided on this place since that time, and is one of the oldest settlers in the precinct. In 1861 he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He is Trustee of the church, and has also been a Steward in the church for fifteen or twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Childress have two children — James L. and Kate, wife of James Williams. They have lost six children, one son and five danghers. Politically he has always been a Dem- *^°^**- Digitized by Microsoft® 768 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Frank F. Conway^ the present (jtticient and popular Circuit Clerk of Daviess County, was born in the county Nov. 22, 1837. His father was a native of Virginia, and came to Daviess County the year previous to Mr. Conway's birth. The Conway family set- tled in Orange County when Virginia was yet a colony of Great Britain. Mr. Conway's father, whose name was also Frank F. Conway, was born in Orange County, Va., about the year 1805. In 1832 he was married to Bettie Brooke, whose family was also con- nected with the early settlement of Virginia. She was born in Fauquier County. After this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Conway lived for three years in Albemarle County, a short distance from Charlottesville, at the seat of the University of Virginia, where Mr. Conway established himself as a practicing physician. In 1836 they came to Daviess County, and settled at once in the upper part of the county, in what is known as the Beach Woods, where Mr. Conway's father practiced medicine and at the same time carried on farming. Here, in November, 1837, Frank F. Con- way, the second of a family of six children, was born. His early education was received at the ^country schools near his father's home. When he was eleven years old his father died. At an early age he was sent to school at New Albany, Ind., where he was a student for two or three years at Anderson Collegiate Insti- tute. He resolved upon adopting his father's profession, and in 1856 went to Louisville with the purpose of pursuing the study of medicine. He attended medical lectures in that city and graduated in the spring of 1859. Mr. Conway returned to Daviess County and began practice at Oakford, where he soon firmly established himself as a physician. In September, 1860, he was married to Emma Hampton, a native of Franklin County, Ky. Her ancestors were from Virginia, early settlers of Franklin County. Mr. Con- way practiced medicine at Oakford for about fourteen years. He then relinquished the profession on account of failing health. In August, 1874, he was elected Circuit Clerk of Daviess County, having been nominated for that position by the regular Democratic County Convention. This oflSce he is now filling. In his political faith he has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party, whose policy he has always been active in advocating and supporting. His first vote for President was cast for John C. Breckinridge, the candidate of the Southern wing of the Demo- cratic party. Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFOED PKECINOT. 769 L. A. Crinnian, M. Z?., was born in Allegheny County, Pa., April 6, 1839. His parents, James and Ann (O' Riley) Crinnian, were natives of Ireland. They were married in 1806, and in 1807 came to America, locating in Pennsylvania. L. A. was the tenth of their eleven children. He was educated in Pennsylvania and graduated from Duff's Commercial College, Pittsburg, in 1857. In 1859 he came to Kentucky, and taught school in Marion County till 1861. when he enlisted in the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry; was in the two days' siege at Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and with General Kilpatrick in all his engagements. He served till the close of the war. After his return home he went to Grenada, Miss., where he raised cotton two years. In the winter of 1869 he went to Missouri, near Kansas City, and rented a farm, remaining there till 1869. He then came to Kentucky and began the study of medicine, graduating from the Louisville Medical Col- lege in the spring of 1873. He went to Kansas City and practiced medicine a year, returning to Kentucky in the spring of 1874, and locating at West Louisville, Daviess County, where he taught school ten months. He then came to Grissom's Landing, where he has since been practicing his profession. Feb. 3, 1881, he married Lide Mattingly. She died June 20, 1882, leaving two sons (twins). John Oaw was born in Washington County, Ky., Oct. 31, 1824. His father, Wm. Gaw, was a native of Ireland, born in 1770, and came to the United States in 1798. He lived at Philadelphia, clerking in store for a year, when he went out with a party of sur- veyors into the-State of Ohio and helped to survey the State. He was a highly educated man and a fine surveyor. From Ohio he went to Louisville; remained there a short time, and then went to Washington County and taught school a number of years. He was married in Washington County, Ky., to Ellen Yates, a native of Maryland, whose father moved from that State to Washington County, Ky. They reared but one son, John Gaw, who is the only representative of his father's family. They had other children, but tliey all died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Gaw died at the resi- dence of their son in Shelby County, 111., in 1852, Mrs. Gaw in the spring and he in the fall of that year. John Gaw was reared in Washington County, Ky., and lived with his parents till he was married. He was educated at the common schools in Washington County. He was married in 1847 to Eliza Mattingly, who was born and reared in Nelson County, daughter of Geo. Mattingly. After he was married he rented a farm for nearly three years, and 49 Digitized by Microsoft® 770 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. in 1849 moved to Shelby County, 111., and bought some timbered land. In the fall of 1854 he moved to Daviess County, Ky., lo- cated near Grissom's Landing, and in the spring of 1858 bought his present place, containing 150 acres. In 1878 he built his pres- ent grocery store. He began buying tobacco in 1873 and bought steadily, with the exception of two years, up to 1881. He was reared in the Catholic faith, and in the building of the Catholic church at Barnard Hill took an active part; was one of the pro- jectors of it and a large contributor in raising the necessary funds. His wife died in the fall of 1863. She was the mother of six chil- dren, only two of whom are living — Madison and J. N. Mr. Gaw was married again in the spring of 1866 to Hulda Heady, who was born in Nelson County, near Bloomfield, a daughter of John Heady. They have three children — Sadie, John Edward and James William. They have lost four children, who died in childhood. Politically Mr. Gaw has always been a Democrat. A. Hebard was born in Henderson County, Ky,, Aug. 5, 1832, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Durffee) Hebard. His father was a native of Connecticut, born Dec. 18, 1796, and came to Kentucky in 1819. His mother was a native cf New York and came to Kentucky in 1820. There was a family of eight children, only four of whom grew to maturity — Harriet, Bathsheba (now Mrs. Conrad Helpler), Augustus and Leonard. His mother died March 30, 1840, and his father Oct. 9, 1861. April 10, 1835, his parents came to Daviess County, and settled on what was then known as the McFarland and Griffith land. Mr. Hebard worked on the farm till he was twenty years of age, and then went to learn the carpenter's trade. In 1859 he was overseer of the Stott farm, and in 1860 rented a farm. He then returned to his father's farm, where he remained till 1868, when he traded his interest in the homestead for the farm where he now lives. He was married April 15, 1859, to Eliza J. Neel. Five sons have been born to them, only two now living. Mr. Hebard joined the Masonic fraternity in 1878. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1863. Aaron Shelby Hiks, born March 27, 1839, in Henderson County, Ky., near Hebbardsville. His father, Beiij. Lee Hiks, was born near Perry ville, Mercer Co., Ky., July 8, 1798. He moved to Henderson County with his parents, in 1804, where he has always made it his home. He was married to Miss Sarah Griffin, a na- tive of Henderson Countv, by whom lie had two children, only one Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFOED PBECINCT. TTl of whom is ■now living. T. ,H. Hiks is a resident of Daviess Connty, Ourdsville Precinct. After the death of hie wife, Benj. Hikj was married again to Miss Sarah C. Junior, in 1835. She died Oct. 20, 1871, at age of sixty-three years. She was the mother of thirteen children, of whom four are now living — Aaron S., Samuel A., Judith (wife of G. K. Negley, residing in Hender- son County), Sarah E. (wife of Peter Kasey, residing in Breckin- ridge County, Ky.). Mr. Hiks is still living in Henderson County, on the homestead farm, aged nearly eighty-five years. He was an old line Whig and a personal friend to Henry Clay. He voted for John Bell in 1860, and since the close of the war has been a member of the Eepublican party. Aaron Shelby Hiks was reared in Henderson County and made his father's house his home till the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in the Federal army, in Company K, Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry. He was mastered into service at Henderson, Ky., Sept. 27, 1861, and was mustered out of service at Louisville, Ky., Jan. 23, 1865. The first engagement was at Fort Donelson. He was afterward in the battles ol Shiloh, Mission Ridge, Chickamanga, Eesaca, New Hope Church, Peach-Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, and several smaller battles and skirmishes. April 13, 1862, the Twenty -fifth and Seventeenth Kentucky Infantries were consoli- dated, and afterward known as the Seventeenth Kentucky. In October, 1862, Mr. Hiks was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company K, and July 4, 1863, was promoted to First Lientenant of Company D. After the war he came home and remained on the farm till October, 1869. He was appointed Storekeeper iu revenue service, on Oct. 3, 1869, and stationed at different dislill- eries in the second collectoral district of Kentucky. In March, 1877, he was appointed Storekeeper and Ganger, and remained on daty for two years and one month. In April, 1879, he was appointed Ganger, and continued in the capacity till Nor. 1, 1879, when he resigned his position and accepted that of Superintendent in the distillery of T. J. Monarch, at Grissom's Landing, Daviess County, and from this date has had entire management of the working of this large distillery. Mr. Hiks was married Nov. 15, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Ewing, a native of Daviess County, daughter of S.E. Ewing, Sr. They have had three children, only one of whom is now living — Bessie May, who was born Match 7, 1882. The other two children died in infancy. In 1857, Mr. Hike united Digitized by Microsoft® 772 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. with the Cumberland Presbyteriaa church, and holds his member- ship at Hebbardsville, Henderson Co., Ky. William J. Krugar was born in Hamburg, Germany, March 1, 1820, and came to America in 1855. He landed in New York, May 7, and remained there four days; then went to what is row Hum- boldt City, Kan., on Mill Creek, and remained three months. In the fall of 1855 he moved to Clover port, Ky., and remained two years, working at the bricklaj'er's trade. In 1857 became to Da- viess County and bought a farm of 138 acres, in Oakford Precinct. He was married in Germany in 1845, to Mary Frimiller, who was born in 1823. They have seven children — Sophia, Mary, Hannah, Frederica, Louisa, William and Louis. Mr. Krugar belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. South. Politically he is a Democrat. N. M. Newman was born Feb. 27, 1834, in Breckinridge County, Ky. His father, James H. Newman, son of Richard and Delia (Lane) Newman, was born in Prince "William County, Va., in 1804, and came to Kentucky in 1828. He married Adline, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Maxey, of Hawesville, Hancock Co,, Ky. Mr. Maxey represented Breckinridge County in the State Leg- islature for several terms, when it embraced both Hancock and Breckinridge counties. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Newman had a family of seven children — Elizabeth, wife of C. W. R. Cobb, of Ohio County, Ky.; Richard L., who married Sallie, daughter of David C. Miller, of Hancock County; N. M. , the subject of this sketch; George A., who was drowned near Memphis at the time of the burning of the steamer Rainbow, in 1855; Mary A., wife of A. G.Newman; William H., who married Kate, granddaughter of David Miller, and Obediah. Nathaniel M. was the third child. He lived with his parents till nineteen years of age, when, Sept. 22, 1853, he married Sarah F., daughter of John and Mary Haynes, and granddaughter of Henry Haynes, and settled on a farm joining liis father's, where he lived till 1868, when he sold out and moved to Birk City, Daviess County, and taught school five months. May 20, 1868, his wife died, aged thirty three years. They had a family of six children, only three now living— John H., Albert and Belle. Mary A., born Sept. 12, 1855, died July 9, 1878; Euge- nia M., born March 11, 1863, died Oct. 7, 1880; William H., born May 14, 1868, died Aug. 28, 1870. From 1869 to 1875 he was engaged in buying tobacco. In 1875 he sold his property and moved on to the George Riley farm. Dec. 20, 1879, he moved to the Bradshaw farm, where he still lives. Feb. 16, 1869, he mar- Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFOBD PBECINCr. 773 ried Mattie Haynes, sister of his iirst wife. She died Jan 7, 1876, leavinij two children — Oscar H., born Dec. 26, 1870, and Virginia H., born April 7, 1874. July 16, 1878, Mr. Newman married Mrs. Kate L. Cheatham, widow of William Cheatham, and daugh- ter of W. A. Bradshaw. In August, 1862, Mr. Newman enlisted in Company H, Tenth Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, and was elected Second Lieutenant. He served six months, and on account of failing eye-sight and a spinal affection, he returned home. He was nearly blind for three years. He has been Jus- tice of the Peace since 1870, with the exception of three months. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church. Peter E . (y Bryan -vi&s born in Marion County, Ky., July 14 1827. When twenty-two years of age he moved to Meade County, and ten years later moved back to Marion County. He came to Daviess County in the fall of 1869. In 1879 he bought a farm of sixty-nine acres seven miles west of Oweneboro, where he still resides, of William Wilhite. He was married in 1847 to Susan Speak, a native of Meade County, Ky., born March 2, 18^7. Eight children have been born to them, six now living — John W., Alonzo R., Mary M., Elizabeth A., Stephen F. and M. M. In October, 1861, Mr. O'Bryan enlisted in Company 6, Tenth Ken- tucky Volunteer Infantry, and served as Orderly Sergeant one year, when he was discharged on account of a trouble with his eyes. During his service in the army he kept and still has a diary of each day's transactions. In 1852 Mr. O'Bryan was Assessor of Meade County.' He was elected Major of a battalion of State militia while in Marion County. He is a member of the Catholic church. Edmund C. Pendleton was born in Albemarle County, Va., April 26, 1815, a son of James G. and Mary E. Pendleton. When he was six years old his parents moved to Licking County, O. He attended school there till fourteen years of age when he was sent back to Virginia and entered the University at Charlottes- ville, Albemarle County. lie being a weakly child his parents contemplated making a lawyer of him, and accordingly he took up that branch of study and graduated in law in 1833. He then entered the Florida war and served till be was wounded. As soon as he recovered sufficiently he was detailed by the Government to go to Cuba and Jamaica and buy bloodhounds for the purpose of trailing the Indians. Although very little has been recorded in Digitized by Microsoft® 774: HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. history of this act it actually took place. After the war he re- turned to Virginia and attended several courses of lectures on phre- nology by Dr. Spersem. He then went to Scotland with Dr. Sper- sem and attended lectures there under him and Dr. Gall, who, with Dr. Spersem, originated phrenology. While in Scotland he at- tended two courses of lectures on law at the Glasgow University, graduating in 1835. la 1835 he went to Vienna and attended two courses in law at Gratt's University, graduating in the spring of 1836. He then returned to the United States and took up the study of civil engineering, at Cincinnati. While engaged in this business he contracted chronic rheumatism, which drew up his right leg at the knee and compelled him to use crutches. Not be- ing able to continue civil engineering he commenced teaching school, and taught in different places in Kentucky till 1848. His health failing on account of his sedentary life, his physician advised a more active business, and accordingly in the fall of 1848 he bought the farm where he now lives. Steadily his health improved until he was entirely recovered. He has 200 acres of fine land, which is now well cultivated. Mr. Pendleton was married in 1840, in Shelby County, Ky., to Martha Seay. She died Nov. 12, 1872, aged fifty-two years, leaving five children — George T., married Elizabeth Houseworth; Jamie G., married Belle Masters; Will J., married Minnie Masters; Flora G., wife of Louis Wahl, and John M. April 17, 1874, Mr. Pendleton married Mrs. Mary A. Kin- cheloe, widow of R. P. Kincheloe, a native of Breckinridge County, Ky., born June 28, 1817. Mr. Pendleton has been a member of the Baptist church since twelve years of age. ■ C. B. Priest, born Jan. 6, 1832, is a son of John H. and Isa- bella (Grigsby) Priest, his father a native of North Carolina, born May 10, 1793, and his mother a native of Daviess County, born Dec. 12, 1800. In 1832 his parents moved to Henderson County, where his father died July 3, 1851. There was a family of eleven children, the following lived to maturity — Joseph M., Marcus A., Frances (Mrs. David Boswell), Decius, Sallie (Mrs. C. B. Duncan), Cortez R., Fernando, Epamanondus and John. C. K. remained with his mother two years after his father's death, when, Nov. 18, 1853, he married Margaret Jones, and went to live with his father-in-law, remaining there three years. At that time his father's estate was settled and he moved on to his portion and lived till September, 1859. He then sold his land and moved back to his father-in-law's, where he remained tillDecember, 1860. Digitized by Microsoft® OAKFOED PEEOINCT. 775 In 1861 he was Deputy SheriflF of Henderson County. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Confederate Cavalry. His company was attached to Morgan's command. July 27, 1863, he was captured, and remained a prisoner till Jan. 6, 1864. Mrs. Priest died Aug. 20, 1859, leaving three sons — John T., Stephen W. , and Charles A. Sept. 13, 1864, Mr. Priest married Mrs. Mel- vina Shroeder. They have one son — Edgar. In 1873 he bought the farm of 237 acres, which was settled by a. Mr. Holt, where he now lives. W. E. Purdy was born in Daviess County, Ky., Sept. 29, 1852. He received his-early education in this county and attended St. Mary's College, Marion County, eighteen months. He owns fifty acres of good land half a mile southeast of Grissom's Land- ing. He was elected Constable of Oakford Precinct in 1880, and is the present incumbent. He has his life insured for $2,000 in the National Insurance Company. He was married Nov. 5, 1878, to Ella Shefier, a native of Union County, Ky., born Sept. 28, 1859. They have one child — William McFarland, born March 7, 1882. Mr. Purdy is a member of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Purdy of the Baptist. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XXV. 80RGHOTOWN PRECINCT. The boundaries of this precinct are described in an order dated May 12, 1874, by Judge Triplett, worded as follows: "Upon the application of ten voters to be affected by Jhe change hereinafter specified; and it appearing to the Court right and proper that said change should be made; and further that the requirements of the law as to notice before application has been complied with, — it is therefore ordered that an additional voting precinct be and the same is hereby established in Daviess County, in District No. 1, to be called and known as ' Sorghotown Voting Place,' with the fol- lowing boundary, viz.: Beginning at the mouth of the willow pond on Panther Creek, running thence north with Callens Tharp's east line, same course continued to Riley's east line, thence with said line to Jo. Carlin's west line, following same to the Henderson road; thence with John Carlin's west line to his northwest corner, thence on a straight line to the old Park farm on Roost road, thence with a line of District No. 9, known as Oakford, to Greten River, thence up Green River to the line of District No. 7 (Curds- ville), thence with said line to Panther Creek, and up said creek as it meanders to the beginning." This new precinct takes its name from a company which was or- ganized here a few years ago for the manufacture of sorghum suitar, an account of which is given on another page of this volume. Thev establislied a factory, around which a village sprang up. Drs. Stirman and Stewart were leaders in the enterprise. ELECTIONS. For the politics of the various parties, see Lower Town Precinct. 1875, Aug. 2: Governor — J. B. McCreary, 94; J. M. Harlan, 56. Representative to Legislature — W. J. Taylor, 83; J. G. Ford, 76* A. J. Philpot, 22. Surveyor— C. W. Gordon, 102. For license, 27; against, 75. For Constitutional Convention, 38; against, 82. 1876, Aug. 7: Circuit Judge — G. W. Ray, 68; J. A. Murray, 84. (776) Digitized by Microsoft® 80KGH0T0WN PEECINOT., 777 Sheriff— J. H. Gates, 135; R. R. Coomes, 43. For road law, 3; against, 173. 1878, Aag. 6: Appellate Judge— T. H. Hines, 144. County Judge— H. W. Scott, 163; G. W. Jolly, 81. County Attorney— J. McFarland, 181. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 205. Sher- iff—E. C. Davis, 171; E. S. "Worthington, 24. Assessor- Gideon AUgood, 164; C. W. Thomas, 5. Surveyor- C. W. Gordon, 157. Coroner— J. W. Funk, 156. Justices— W. H. Chatham, 87; J. N. Patterson, 194; Ben. Stout, 165; Isaac Bennett, 23. Constable —Henry Eaty, 111; W. R. Marshall, 92. 1878, Nov. 5: Congressman — J. A.McKenzie, 53; J. W. Feighan, 18; Francis M. English, 3. 1879, Aug. 4: Governor— Luke P. Blackburn, 54; W. Evans, 36; C. W. Cook, 3. Representative to Legislature — R. W. Mc- Farland, 58; James Rudy, 63; E. S. Worthington, 9;E. O'FJynn. 4. Constable— J. P. Moore, 90. 1880, Aug. 2: Circuit Judge — James Stuart, 69; L. P. Little, 100. Commonwealth Attorney— Joe Noe, 101; Jo. Haycraft, 51. Circuit Clerk— F. F. Conway, 120. Sheriff— Ed. Daveiss, 1 17. Surveyor — E. Edward?, 114. Constable — Joe Crabtree, 118. 1880, Nov. 2: President— W. S. Hancock, 126; J. A. Garfield, 70; J. B. "Weaver, 5. Representative to Legislature — J. A. Mc- Kenzie, 113; John Feland, 58; C. W. Cook, 7. 1881, Aug. 1: State Treasurer— J. "W. Tate, 44. Senator— J. A. Munday, 54. Representative to Legislature — J. H. Rudy, 53; Geo. V. Triplett, 54. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 47. Constable— J. N. Pierce, 43; Marvin Dent, 18. Coroner— G. W. Mathis, 2; P. W. Clark, 37; J. B. Whelan, 2. 1882, Aug. 7: Judge of Superior Court— J. H. Bowden, 53. Appellate Clerk — T. J. Henry, 45; R. T. Jacob, 37. County Judge — H. W. Scott; 57. County Attorney — Martin Yewell, 64. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 77. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 54; J. J. Christian, 24. Surveyor — E. Edwards, 61 . Coroner — Geo. M. Harden, 61. Assessor — G. A. Allgood, 73. For school tax, 24; against, 56. Justices — J. N. Patterson, 72; J. K. Smith, 71; 5. G. Ray, 9. Constable— M. if. Dent, 78. 1882, Nov. 7: Congressman— James F. Clay, 31; W. M. Fuqua, 34. Magistrates' Courts: For one justice, the second "Wednesday in March, June, September and December; for the other, the third Monday in those months. Digitized by Microsoft® 778 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. BIOGRA.PHICAL. John W. Balee was born in Shelby County, Ky., Oct. 27, 1837, and came to Daviess County when twelve years old. He enlisted in the late war in Company D, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, and served three years and three months. He was with Sherman all the way to Atlanta; was in the siege of Knoxville and Buzzard's Roost ; was discharged at Louisville. In 1869 he went to Kansas and the Indian Territory, returning to Kentucky in 1871. He was married Oct. 21, 1873, to Lillie Smith, a native of Henderson County, born May 30, 1848. They have two children — Fannie, born Aug. 30, 1876, and Miller, born July 3, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Balee are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Balee is a member of "Wm. M. Winstead Lodge, No. 466, A. F. & A. M. He owns ninety-six acres eight miles southwest of Owensboro. Isaac Bennett was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., July 5, 1835- When seventeen years of age he went to Spencer County, Ind., and in 1856 came to Daviess County, where he worked at farming for different parties in 1858, when he moved to McLean County, and lived two years. He then came to Curdsville Pre- cinct, and went into the drug business, which he continued five years, and then sold out and opened a livery stable. Two years later he moved on the farm where he now resides, two miles south- east of Sorghotown. He has sixty acres of well-improved land. He was married May 27, 1858, to Ellen Ford, a native of Green Coufity, Ky., born in October, 1834. She died Aug. 20, 1868, leaving three children — Stewart, Mary S., and Jessie. Dec. 30, 1868, Mr. Bennett married Mrs. Elizabeth Eafferty, who was born in Green County, Ky., in 1828. She was the sister of his first wife, ind the widow of Elijah Eafferty, who died March 25, 1858, leaving one son — Walter A. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Bennett is a member of Wm. M. Winstead Lodge, No. 446, A. F. & A. M., Owensboro. Oeorge L. Calhoon was born in Daviess County, Ky., April 9, 1819. He was reared and educated in this county, and has always resided here. His father was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1793, and came to Daviess County in 1811, where he died Jan. 22, 1878. He was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church over fifty years, and in all that time never made a contract for a dollar. His mother, Ann (Knight) Calhoon, was also a native of Henry Digitized by Microsoft® SOEGHOTOWN PEEOINCT. 779 County, and died in this county Nov. 22, 1839. There was a family of nine girls and two boys, George L. being the eldest. He was married Oct. 15, 1840^ to Leah Glenn Oalhoon, who was born in Daviess County, March 13, 1820, and died Aug. 22, 1879. They had ten children, seven now living — Samuel, Nancy, William, Mitchell, Elizabeth, Louisa and George L., Jr. Mr. Oalhoon owned 850 acres of land, but now has only 403^, having divided the rest with his children. He has never united with the church, but is in belief a Cumberland Presbyterian. He is a member of Wm. Winstead Lodge, No. 466, A. F. & A. M., Owensboro. Mitchell Oalhoon was born in Daviess County, Ky., Nov. 7, 1850. He was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools, attending school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer. Before the war his father had a number of slaves, but he believed in having his boys learn to work, and after the emancipation proclamation, when they were forced to perform their own labor, the task was not so hard as for those who were never taught to work. Mr. Oalhoon has a well-improved farm of 150 acres, seventy-five of which was heavy timber seven years ago. He was married Oct. 9, 1875, to Bettie Glenn, a native of Daviess County, born May 29, 1856. They have one child — Avah, bom Nov. 6, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Oalhoon are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church. He and his father, George L. Oal- hoon, joined the church about the same time — twentj'-two years ago. There were nine children in his father's family — Samuel, Nancy, William, Mitchell, Lucy, John, Bettie, Louise and George. Mrs. Oalhoon's parents, David and Mary Jane (Waltrip) Glenn, were nativ^es of Daviess County. Her father died in 1866, and her mother was killed in 1868 by the floor over the cellar caving in and crushing her. Of a family of six children but two are living — William L. Glenn, born Oct. 30, 1853, and Mrs. Oalhoon. Rev. Scrnittel Oalhoon, son of George Oalhoon, was born in Henry County, Ky., Sept. 15, 1793; removed to Daviess County, Ky., in 1812, and settled in a dense forest six miles southwest of Owensboro, which was known at that time by the name of Yellow Banks, and consisted of^three log cabins, with but a sm all amount of cleared land surrounding them. His arrival was two weeks after the last battle fought with the Indians across the Ohio River in Indiana, causing the Indians to retire from this country to the West. Though there were many traces of the Indians in the Green River Yalley, in which Mr. Oalhoon settled, yet it was Digitized by Microsoft® 780 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. apparent, owing to the low, flat condition of the country, that the presence of the Indians was only transient. Hence the prevalence of wild animals in the valley. The new settlers in their log cabin, in their forest home, were entertained at night by the howling of the wolf, the bear and panther, and squalls of the wild-cat. The family of children consisted of six boys and two girls. They soon began the work of clearing and cultivating the forest. George Oalhoon, the father, being an excellent surveyor, did a great deal of surveying, as the country was gradually settled. There were scarcely any opportunities for education, there not being enough settlers to sustain a school. About the only oppor- tunity was to take some one who was too infirm for active business, and support them for their instruction. Books being scarce, the principal reading-book was the New Testament, and when a person was so fortunate as to attain to the rule of three inarit h metic, he was regarded as being well educated. Samuel Calhoon, being a very delicate youth, it was supposed he would not live; consequently his mental culture was much neglected. The other boys received as much education as the circumstances would admit, and aided their father in the sheriff's business, which gave them some advantage. Four of the boys subsequently entered the profession of law. One is a farmer. Sam- uel remained with his parents, and obtained, altogether, about three months' schooling. As he approached manhood his health improved and physical strength increased, until he finally became physically one of the ablest of the family. He returned to Henry County and married Ann Knight at about the age of twenty-seven years, and settled in a hu«ible home near his parents in Daviess County. From his youth up he was morally inclined, and, having re- mained with his parents, he received much moral instruction. Though they were Presbyterians, he did not endorse their general doctrines. He believed in a general salvation upon the terms of repentance. He learned that Eev. David Lowry would preach in Owensboro at a given time (which was the first sermon ever preached in Owensboro). He inquired of what denomination he was, and was told that he was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. He had never heard of a Cumberland Presbyterian, and inquired of their doctrines. Their views were given him by an aged elder from a distance, whom he chanced to meet. He remarked that those were jnst his views, and he would hear the man. The time Digitized by Microsoft® aOEGHOTOWN PREOINCT. 781 arrived and he did hear the man of God preach the gospel, ' ' not by man's wisdom, but with power and in demonstration of the Holy Ghost." He became interested with regard to his own salvation, though he told no one of his condition. He began to seek Christ, bat he had no one to instruct him. Mr. Lowry was a transient minister, and was gone; there was no other minister within forty miles of him; he did not endorse the doctrines of his own parents, and hence he had none to consult in his dark hour but his God and his Bible. Those he did consult in the true sense, and on the second Sabbath in April, 1821, v hile riding alone upon the road leading from Owensboro to Calhoon, as he entered the pass known as the Narrows of Panther Creek, light came to him. He thought he would say nothing about it, but as soon as he reached home his wife was conscious of the change, from his appearance and con- duct. It was no longer a secret, but soon became generally known. Ere long he fully realized that God called him to the work of the ministry. Deep solemnity pervaded his heart, as he looked upon the subject as a matter of impossibility. He was very poor, had no education, a family of little girls, with one boy, and no one to instruct him. Thus he reasoned and deferred the matter; bat the hand of his God rested heavily upon him till he was brought to realize, " Woe is me if I preach not the gospel." He began the work first by exhortation. He would make an- nouncements and hold meetings in private residences, by the con- sent of the occupants, there being no churches or school-houses in the country. His meetings were fully attended, persons coming from miles distant. His labors were abundantly successful. In 1826 the Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian church met about sixty miles distant. He attended and offered himself as a can- didate for the ministry. On his return home he made his announce- ments for preaching. But alas! the dark scenery before him, with A helpless family, very poor, no education, none to instruct him, there was only one path lying out before him, his God and his Bible. With these weapons, he determined to enter the conflict with Satan's kingdom. So he would labor with his own hands through the day for the support of his family, and, there being no such thing as lamps, and not being able to buy candles, he would gather dry sticks on his return from the field with which to make light at night to see to read his Bible. He had but one horse, which he would work through the week and ride fifteen miles on Digitized by Microsoft® 782 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COtTHTT. the Sabbath and preach a free gospel to an anxious congregation and return home in the evening. He held the first prayer-meeting that was ever held in Owensboro, Rev. David Lowry preaching the first sermon. He finally announced that he would have regular service at his own house aud at the houses of others who so cordially invited him, thus establishing regular service over the country, occupying his fall time when not at manual labor for the support of his fam- ily. He prepared temporary benches and began preaching at home. Many of his congregation would remain after preaching and take dinner with him for the purpose of enjoying a private re- ligious intercourse with him in the afternoon. This discou^-aged many of his warmest friends. They told him that he would soon be a ruined man — that it was impossible for him with his family to preach a free gospel, and then feed half of his congregation ; that he had better quit preaching at home at once. He kindly re- plied that when he found that he would not be able to stand it, it would then be time enough to stop. He has often told the writer that just at this point his prosperity began — that, instead of being ruined as predicted, his finances be- gan to increase; prosperity began to abound. His table abounded with plentitude, and, in short, God blessed the man and soon ena- bled him to devote his whole time and energy to the work of a free gospel ministry. Having been deprived of science or even oral instruction from his fellowmen, and being, as it were, cut off from all other aids and sources of information, and left almost alone with the Bible as his only resort, and being a man of originality, with naturally a deep, 6earch''ng, penetrating, reasoning intellect, he threw his whole soul into the work, searching out the deep doctrinal principles of the- ology until he became well versed in the moral law, with its bear- ings, the probationary state of man, his fall, his depraved nature, his moral attitude to his God, and the great system of redemption so wonderfully wrought and grandly displayed to a dying world. And just at this juncture an omniscient God loosed his fetters and turned him loose upon Satan's kingdom of darkness. He marched forth, a man of commanding appearance, with as fine a voice as the writer ever heard, thoroughly furnished and equipped, not with the wisdom of the world, but with the great sword of the gospel, with a soul yearning for the salvation of a dying world. Humbled under the mighty hand of God, and yet Digitized by Microsoft® 80KGH0T0WN PRECINCT. 783 his head lifted up and his soul all aglow with the burning lamp of salTation, he marched forth heralding the gospel of the Son of God till the news thereof spread abroad, and many anxious souls would come rushing from the distance. And the man of God would stand up between his Master and his dying congregation, not with pompous air, but trembling under the ponderous weight of respon- sibility, and set forth the gospel so deep and yet so clear, and with such earnestness and force and power, that the hearts of the throng- ing multitude would melt as snowflakes under the beaming rays of the genial sun. Itev. Samuel Calhoon was indeed a gospel minister. The country rapidly increased in population, and began building school- houses and preparing temporary conveniences for camp-meetings. These Mr. Calhoon attended all over the Green Eiver country, preaching with such earnestness, and reasoning with such depth, force and power, as to call the nlultitudes home to God, and, in short, to convert a howling wilderness into a fruitful garden. He attended the various meetings of his Presbytery, and was soon ordained to the whole work of the gospel ministry. He then began the work of organizing congregations and urging the work of building church edifices with great success. It was under his ministry that the ground was given and the present church built in Owensboro, where he preached for a number of years. And not only did he organize Cumberland Presbyterian churches, but through his influence churches of other denominations were or- ganized over the country. His style of preaching was doctrinal, not sectarian; but the deep, doctrinal principle of the Bible. In this he displayed his wonder- ful logical reasoning powers, bringing out and setting forth the leading doctrinal principles of theology with such force and clear- ness, such beauty and harmony, that the humblest of his hearers could comprehend them. He never wrote a sermon in his life, nor spoke from a note. In- deed, he had but little use for a pen, but was naturally a speaker. He seldom reproved any one for misconduct. Indeed, he had but little misconduct under his ministry from the fact that he in- terested his congregation and feasted their minds upon gospel food, leading them out to survey the grand unfolding scenes of the gospel scheme. He seldom referred to the evils of his people, but spake of the heinous nature of sin in general, and contrasted it with the dying Digitized by Microsoft® 784 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. agonies of a loving Savior in such melting strains of love and tenderness a*s to draw his people off from the paths of sin instead of attemptiiig to drive them off. He was a humble man, not courting the popular applause of men, but chose rather to feed his flocks and win souls. He loved his people and taught them to love each other. Indeed, I regard this as one of the great secrets of his success. He held his congre- gation under a constant rule of love, and hence there was scarcely ever a discord in one of his congregations. One of his great forts was in revival work. I will give you one instance: He preached one night at a camp-meeting to a congregation chiefly of irreligious people, from John iii: .36: " He that believeth on the Son liath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." He knew that the greater portion of his congregation were dying sinners. He realized the importance of the occasion and trembled under its responsibilities; he put forth all the energies of his soul and preached with such force and power as mortal men seldom do. At the close of his dis- course there were mourners' benches all over the encampment; about three fourths of his congregation were olG" their seats on their knees, calling for mercy, and at the close of the series of meetings there were 120 who confessed to have found Christ. In 1850 he began a protracted meeting with Rev. Joseph Weaver in the residence of the latter. But in a few days the meeting was removed to a school-house, just completed in Pleasant Ridge neigh- borhood. The meeting continued about two weeks, with the salva- tion of many souls. Pleasant Ridge Congregation of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church was organized, and a commodious church edifice was erected three miles southwest of Owensboro, Rev. Samuel Calhoon taking the pastoral charge of the church, preaching on the fourth Sabbath in each month, and Rev. Joseph Weaver alternating on the third, each of them preaching till their deaths. Mr. Calhoon never raised a collection for himself in his life, nor charged a cent for preaching, though he sometimes received pres- ents. Although he started in life so poor, and preached a free gospel, and reared a family of ten children, eight of whom were girls, yet he became more wealthy than almost any of the citizens of his county. He was once assigned some presbyterial work, for which he was entitled to compensation; his Presbytery met, he re- ported compliance with the order of Presbytery, and was granted his salary. He arose and stated that he didn't want any salary. The Digitized by Microsoft® SOBGHOTOWN PBECINOT. 785 moderator remarked that he was entitled to compeneation, and ordered the treasurer to pay over the money. The treasurer arose and handed him the amount. He received it and turned and handed it to the treasurer of the Board of Missions, telling him to appro- priate it in that direction. Furthermore, he never failed to contrib- ute liberally of his own means to the various enterprises of his church. He disliked to agitate the subject of money in his congre- gations, but, as it was sometimes necessary to raise money to defray the necessary expenses of the churches, he was frequently reduced to that unpleasant necessity, and the writer l^eard him state, just before his death, that he never called for money for such purposes in a single case during life that he failed to get the full amount called for. During the year 1855 there was a great scarcity of food in the country. Elder Oalhoon had quite an amount of old corn left over. Corn advanced to $2.25 per bushel; he announced that he had corn for sale. People began to come from every direction to buy com; but when a man of considerable wealth would come, he would tell him kindly that he could not let him have it, that he was able to send off and have corn shipped to him, and that he had neighbors that were unable to do that, that needed his corn. When a man of moderate circumstances would come, he would ask iiim the size of liis family. On ascertaining, he would appor- tion him just the amount of corn he thought necessary for his family, and tell him that he could let him have just so many bushels of corn at 50 cents per bushel, and to the poor he gave corn in pro- portion to their necfessities; thus he relieved many sufferers. After Mr. Oalhoon had built up churches over the neighborhood and established regular preaching, with prayer-meetings and Sab- bath^chools and protracted meetings once a year, such prosperity, such peace, happiness and paternal charity, abounded as has seldom ever existed in any country. Truly did Pleasant Kidge commu- nity blossom as the rose. In 1875 Mr. Oalhoon felt that he was sinking under the weight of years, and seeing that the old frame church, built in 1850, was much dilapidated, he spoke to his congregation upon the impor- tance of a new church, stating that he would soon be called to leave them, and that he had a great desire to see a new and perma- nent place of worship erected for the benefit of his people before he left them. The people at once recognized the kind, gentle voice of their aged pastor, and promptly responded, and immediately began 60 Digitized by Microsoft® 786 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. raising the means necessary, Mr. Oalhooji giving over $800. Very soon an elegant brick edifice was erected near the old frame house, in which it had been remarked that there had been more lasting good accomplished than in any other house in Daviess County. Mr. Calhoon's health was rapidly declining; the church was completed and paid for, and the day announced for its dedication by its aged, declining pastor. What a strange occurrence; what peculiar solemnity pervaded the minds of the populace. All appeared to be impressed with the idea that that would be the last sermon that their pastor would ever preach. The day arrived, the congregation began to assemble, and behold ! the new church was draped in mourning. How sad all appeared. What was the cause of the drapery ? Betsey Weaver, wife of Rev. Joseph Weaver, an aged and pious mother of the church, who had labored with Mr. Calhoon from the early history of the country, and who had con- tributed $500 to the church, the interest of whose declining life had been the church and its dedication, was there lying upon the icy lap of death in the new church. She had been very frail for several weeks, but looked forward with anxious care to the comple- tion and dedication of the church. It was the theme of her conver- sation. She was asked tlie question the evening previous, if she thought she would be able to attend the dedication on the morrow? She paused a moment, and with a pensive sigh, replied . " I'll bo there," and in a few moments was dt'ad. True, she was there to receive hermounfiil tribute of funeral respect. But what an additional cross was placed upon the aged pastor. He arose, with his silvery locks and trembling frame, to perform the funeral service of his departed sister and dedication of the church in conjunction, and, true enough, to address his long-loved audience for the last time. The house, though large and commo- dious, was full to overflowing; the windows and doors were open and crowded, with many in the yard, listening with the most pecul- iarly solemn interest I have ever witnessed, as the man of God spread forth his trembling hands before his God, and submitted all to him, thus ending fifty years of gospel ministry. It is worthy of remark that tiiore was a lady present who had lioard his first sermon fifty years previous. Though he was never al)le to preach again, yet he lived about four years. Immediately after his dedication sermon, he appeared to fully realize that his work was finished. He remarked to a friend that liis mission was over. He became interested with regard to preach- Digitized by Microsoft® SOKGHOTOWN PRECINCT. 787 ing to his congregation at Pleasant Ridge. He therefore addressed a note upon the subject to the session over which he had so long presided, and which is here inserted, as follows : COMMUNICATION. " To the Moderator and Session of Pleasant Ridge congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church now assembled. " My Dear Brethren and Children in Christ Jesus : " I have been preaching to you more than thirty years. Some of your congregation heard me preach near fifty years ago, and, with Brother Joseph Weaver, I organized your congregation more than twentj'-six years ago. From that time to the present I have served you as your pastor and moderator of your session to the very best of my ability, and I now feel, that in the overruling providence of God my work is ended, my mission oat, and, in the language of inspiration, 'I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.' " It is therefore necessary that I leave you for the present; but we part to meet again. I expect to realize with you the eternal full- ness of the gospel of Christ, of which I am not ashamed, and which I have so long tried to preach to you. And while I realize that it must needs be that I leave you, your congregation cluster around my heart in emotions unutterable. "My dear children, when I am called hence what news of you shall I bear to Canaan? Shall I report you as a valiant Spartan band? Oh! what will be the future of Pleasant Ridge church? "When I am gone, and, for aught I know, shall visit you in the spirit, what then shall I see ? "What news of you shall I then waft back to the spirit land ? "As 1 have been preaching to you so long on the fourth Sabbath in every month, my desire is that that day be still occupied by your congregation, and that the session take some legal steps to that end. " But if in the providence of God I shall ever be able to meet you and preach to you again, it will be my great pleasure to do so. "Finally, my brethren, I exhoi-t you to ever be faithful to the great cause which you have espoused. 'Love one another.' " May the grace of God ever be with you. May his Holy Spirit ever guide and direct you, mark your future pathway, and shape your future destiny. S. Calhoon." Digitized by Microsoft® 788 HI8T0KT OF DAVIESS COUNTT. Rev. Mr. Cosby preached in his stead for several months, after which Rev. "Willis Smith was chosen to officiate as assistant pastor until his death. During his latter days he talked but little about the world, only with regard to its sinful state; his general theme was eternity. He often expressed that his greatest comfort in his declining help- less days was that he had been chargeable to no man, but had preached a free gospel. He often exulted at the thought of meet- ing his Savior, whom he had preached for fifty years without money and without price. And notwithstanding his early pov- erty, his rearing of a large family, with liberal contributions to the various enterprises of the church, with over $800 to the erection of Pleasant Ridge Church, yet he owned a large fine farm and nearly $10,000 in cash. But his last days, his conversations, his blessings, his predictions and remarkable incidents that attended him which I shall not here mention, were the most remarkable that the writer ever witnessed. It is enough to say, that in a grand triumph lie left this world, Jan. 22, 1879, aged eighty-five years, four months and seven days. Thus fell a remarkable man, but he's "over Jordan at last, in Canaan at last." William Calhoon was born May 1, 1848, in Daviess Countv, Ky. His father, G. L. Calhoon, was born in this coanty in 1819, and is one of the oldest and best farmers of the county. _ He started poor, bat by good management and hard labor has accumu- lated 800 or 900 acres of fine land, under a good state of cultiva- tion. His grandfather, Rev. Samuel Calhoon, was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1793, and died in 1879. He was one of the earlv Cumberland Presbyterian preachers. Mr. Calhoon was reared and educated in this coanty. He was married Dec. 25, 1873, to Eliza- beth Barr, a native of Hancock County, Ky., born Dec. 11, 1835. They have one child— Delia B., born Feb. 9, 1879. Mr. Calhoon owns a farm of 165 acres, five and a half miles southwest of Owens- boro. He is a member of the Camberland Presbyterian church. W. E. Clark, Sorghotown, was born May 14, 1861, in Marion County. He is a son of F. "W. and Susan E. (Smith) Clark, both natives of Kentucky. When our subject was a year old, his parents removed to Louisville, where he lived five years, and where his mother died ; then removed to Daviess County. His father followed farming, and now lives on his farm seven miles south of Owensboro. When eleven years old our subject was sent to Gethsemane College, Digitized by Microsoft® SOBGHOTOWN PRECINCT. 789 Nelson County; then to St. Mary's, in Marion County, finishing his education in Cecilian College, Hardin County. July 17, 1882, he opened a general merchandise store in Sorghotown, where he has built up a good business. He is a young man of active spirit and good habits, and is destined to rank with the representative business men of the county. He is unm?"-'ed. A member of the Catholic church, and politically a Den.^ .rat. Postoffice, Sor- ghotown. John S. Dugan was born in Daviess County, Ky., Jan. 7, 184-3. His father, John Dugan, was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 1800, and died in 1863. His mother, Mary (Harrison) Dugan, was born in Nelson County in 1823. She is the mother of eleven children. John S. has always lived on a farm and now owns fifty acres, seven miles southwest of Owensboro. He was married Feb. 17, 1861, to Elizabeth Thorp, who died May 21, 1881, leaving six children — Lorina, Charles, Lizzie A., John C, Patsy D. and Naomi. Winfield Scott Gilmore, M. D., son of Benjamin and Harriet (Lane) Gilmore, was born Feb. 24, 1849, at Garnettsville, Meade Co., Ky. His father was a mechanic. "When the Doctor was six years of age his parents moved to Ashfordsburg, whwe he at- tended the district schools a short time. After he was twenty-one he returned to Garnettsville and attended for one year the Salem College. He obtained a teacher's certificate and taught school three years. During vacation he went one term to Oakland Semi- nary, Daviess County. In 1873 he commenced tlie study of medi- cine, and graduated at the Evansville Medical College in 1879. He commenced practice in Hopkins County, where he remained two years, and then removed to Daviess County, settling at Sorgho- town. Here he has built a home and has a good and growing prac- tice. He was married Sept. 29, J 879, to Mattie A. Jackson, of Webster County, Ky. They have had three children, two of whom died in infancy. Millard, now living, was born Oct. 20, 1882. Dr. Gilmore is a member of the Baptist church and his wife is a Methodist. He is a strong temperance man, and was President of the Temperance Society of Hopkins County. Postoffice address, Sorghotown. William L. Glenn, born Oct. 30, 1853, was a son of David and Mary Jane (Waltrip) Glenn, both natives of Kentucky. His father was born in 1828, and died in February, 1865. His mother was killed in 1868, by the floor above her cellar giving way. She was at home alone and had gone into the cellar to attend to her Digitized by Microsoft® 790 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. work ; tliere being considerable wheat stored above her cellar, which was too heavy for the floor, the joists gave way, letting the entire contents on her. After the death of his father, though but twelve years old, William went to work, and that year raised 600 bushels of wheat and $300 worth of tobacco, with no one to help him but an old colored woman. He was married Sept. 27, 1877, to Marga- ret Louisa Calhoon, a native of Daviess County. They have two children— Ida, born Aug. 16, 1878, and Leah, born Feb. 18, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn are members of the Cumberland Presby- terian church. Edwin Hambleton was born in Henry County, Ky., Jan. 5, 1826. His father, Willis Hambleton, was born in Virginia, April 3, 1808, and died in Cloverport, Ky., Sept. 14, 1855. His mother, Jane (Johnston) Hambleton, was born in Virginia in 1806, and died July 14, 1854. Edwin is the eldest of their five children. His parents moved to Breckinridge County when he was two years old. He remained there till 1868, engaged in merchandising and trading in tobacco. He then went to Henderson County, where he followed farming till Jan. 15, 1874, when he came to Daviess County. He now owns a good farm of 133 acres, and is keeping the old Calhoon Ferry, on Green Kiver, ten miles west of Oweiis- boro. He was married Nov. 7, 1850, to Amarrilla Cooper, a native of Breckinridge County, Ky. She died in 1863, leaving three children. Mr. Hambleton then married Anna H. Dent, a native of Breckinridge County, born July 29, 1840. They have two children — Maggie, born Jan. 15, 1871, and Anna, born March 19, 1873. Mr. Hambleton is a member of the Baptist church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. i?. O. Moore was born in Daviess County, Ky., Feb. 3, 1840. He was reared on a farm and has followed that occupation most of his life. At the outbreaking of the Kebellion he was living in Owensboro, but soon after moved on a farm. He has 100 acres of good, well-improved land. Sept. 4, 1867, lie married Augusta Colenburg, a native of Evansville, Ind. Six children have been born to them— Lilly M.,born Aug. 31, 1868, died Feb. 28, 1881; Gussie K., born Sept. 8, 1871; George J., born April 8, 1874; Chrissie, born Feb. 6, 1876; Dellie E., born March 9, 1878, died Feb. 5, 1881 ; Leslie, born Dec. 27, 1881. Mr. Moore's father, John G. Moore, was born in Kentucky and died in 1843. His mother, Nancy (Johnson) Moore, was born in Ohio County, Kj'., in 1808, and died in this county in 1858. Mrs. ^Moore's father, Digitized by Microsoft® SOKGHOTOWN I'BICCIWCI'. 7^1 Angnst Colenbnrg, was bom in Gottingen, Germany, Jan. '24, 1S21. His wife, Ciiristine (Sliultz) Colenburg, was born April 4, 1^23. They were married, at Evansville, Ind., Dec. 4, 1845, by Rev. A. Saubert. Tiiey bad nine ebildrcii — George, born Aug. 27, 1.^46, married Lottie E. Brown, at Owensboro, Ky., Jan. 16, 1868; Angusta F., born June 5, 1S4S; Eleiiora L., born Oct. 6, 1850, died Jan. 27, lSs3; Felepena E., born Jan. 11, 1853, died Jan. 27, 1854; Augustus IL, born Dec. 7, 1855, married Nettie L. Sharp, at Owens- boro, Ky., Jan. I'S, 1879; Ohristena M. L., born June 16, 1858, married Pliilip Ling at Owensboro, Ky., Oct. 17, 1878; Julius S. , born July 23, 1S60 ; Melissa P., born [Oct. 30, 1863; Capitola S., born April 19, 1805, and Otillie J., born May 5, 1868. J. L. Moredock was born near Hardinsburg, Ky., Jan. 10, 1831, and lived there till 1882, when he came ^to Daviess County. He has always been engaged in farming and dealing in stock. His father, Stephen R. Moredock, was born in Breckinridge Cniuty in 1803, and always lived on the farm where he was born. He died in 1876. His mother, Matilda (Pemberton) Moredock, was born in Green County, Ky., in 1812, and died about 1852. J. L. is the eldest of eight children. He was married in 1861 to Elizabeth Bandy, a native of Breckinridge County, born in 1835. She died in 1876, leaving live children — Tliomas, Mary M., Jane, Joseph and Annie. Mr. Moredock then married Kate Vangreen, who was born in 1847. They have one child— Eifio, born Aug. 23, 1880. Mr. Moredock is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He has been a Mason thirty-two years, and is a member of John- son Lodge,,No. 294, Breckinridge County, Ky. John S. Mullicaii, farmer, Sorgliotown Precinct, was born in Washington County, Ky., in 1838. son of John and Susan (Eay- den) MuUican, natives of Maryland and Kentucky. They had seven sons and six daughters, John S. being the third son. He was but two years of age when his parents moved to Nelson County, Ky., and settled near Bardstowu. He remained here until the war, when he enlisted in Company A, Sixteenth Mississippi In- fantry, Confederate service, June, 1861. He remained in the ser- vice nearly three years, then returned home on account of poor health. In 1864 he came to Daviess County, where he has since remained. He was married April 10, 1866, to Kate Stowers, daughter of A. H. Stout and Elizabeth (Balee) Stout. Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Stout had eighi children, three sons and five daughters ■iving— J. Stowers, J. Tifernon, Bettie, Ollie and Odie (twins), Digitized by Microsoft® 792 HISTOEY OF DAVIE8S COUNTY. Bicbard, Mamie and Addie. Mrs. MuUican is a member of the Baptist and Mr. MuUican of the Catholic church. Mr. MuUican has 260 acres of land where he resides. James M. Patterson, son of Samuel H. and Sarah A.. (Nolan) Patterson, was born in Jefferson ville, Ind., July 10, 1840. He attended the district school of JeffersonviUe till seventeen years ot age, and then went to Asbury College, Greencastle, Ind. Left college to go to Pike's Peak in 1857. He returned the next year and read law with Lowell H. Rousseau, of Louisville, Ky. He practiced law in JeffersonviUe until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as First Lieutenant of Company F, Second Ken- tucky Cavalry; was with them till after the battle at Stone River. He then went as a scout with General Wilder. He was wounded by three bullet shots and one saber cut during the war. After his discharge he returned home, and soon after came to Daviess County. In 1873-'74 he was practicing in Sorghotown. He went to Texas, where he was wounded while trying to defend a neigh- bor. He returned to Sorghotown, and in 1878 was elected Magis- trate of Sorghotown Precinct; was re-elected in 1881. He was' married in 1864 to Susan F. Windsor, of Virginia. They have eight children — Samuel W., Edwin Ray, Richard S., Dillard R., James Nolan, Myra W., Hallie A. and Susan F. Mr. Patterson is very fond of fishing, and has gained quite a reputation as an adept in the art. He claims to be the best hook and line fisherman in the State of Kentucky. Isaac N. Pierce was born in Washington Count}', Ky., May 29, 1827. In 1868 he came to Daviess County and bought a farm of 175 acres, where he still lives. He married Mrs. Mary C. Pierce, widow of G. C. Pierce. They have no children. Mrs. Pierce has two children by her first marriage — Molly, born in 1861 (now the wife of Union Barnett), and Clark, born in 1862. Mr. Pierce is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He belongs to Wm. Winstead Lodge, No. 466, A. F. & A.M. Milton H. Rose, M. D., Postmaster, Sorghotown, was born in Marion County, Ky., July 6, 1826. His father, Joseph Rose, M. D., was born Feb. 28, 1782, and died April 30, 1849. His mother, Nancy (Simpson) Rose, was born in Virginia in 1805, and died Sept. 17, 1848.' They had nine children, six of whom studied medicine. Milton H. received his education in Transylvania, Ky. He commenced the practice of his profession in 1861. He was con- tract surgeon seven months in the late war; was located in Marion Digitized by Microsoft® SORGHOTOWN PRECINCT. 793 County, Ky. For the past ten years he has lived in Sorghotown. He is a member of Marion Lodge, No. 136, A. F. & A. M, lie was married July 17, 185i, to Lueebra Baxter, a native of Marion County, born Nov. 23, 1832. To Dr. and Mrs. Rose have been born four children — Lizzie, born May 10, 1855; Oscar, born Jan. 27, 1857; Wm. H., born April 10, 1863; James 13., born March 13, 1865. Dr. Rose is a member of the Christian hurch at Owens- bo ro. Emerson Shaw was born in Henderson County, Ky., Dec. 6, 1851, and came to Daviess County with his paients in 1852, and has always lived near his present residence, adjoining Sorghotown. He was married May 5, 1879, to Elizabeth Stowers, who was born Jan. 14,1856. They have one child— William, born Oct. 17, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are members of the Pleasant Grove Baptist church. Mr. Shaw is a member of Wm. M. Winstead Lodge, No. 466, A^ F. & A. M. He owns 170 acres of good land where he lives, and 640 acres in Texas. He is Deputy Clerk of Daviess County, and chairman of the Board of School Trustees in Sorgho- town District, No. 54. He was educated at Rockville University, Md., and the Kentucky University at Lexington. His father, John L. Shaw, a carriage-maker, was born in Washington, D. C, Aug. 10, 1809, and lived there till twenty-one years of age. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and lived a few years; then came to Henderson County, Ky. He was married Dec. 24, 1839, to T. B., daughter of Daniel and Holland Smith, a native of Henderson County, born March 31, 1818. She died Sept. 19, 1882. J. L. Shaw died Nov. 19, 1875. He was a member of the Methodist and his wife of the Baptist church. He was a descendant of Dr. Wm. Shaw, a native of Scotland and a graduate of Edinburg Med- ical College, who came to America in Lord Baltimore's time, and settled in Maryland. His son, Levi, tlie father of John L., married a Miss Lanman, and was a merchant of Washington. Emerson Shaw's Grandmother Smith was born in Delaware in 1786. His great-grandmother came from Plolland and his great-grandfather from Scotland. His Grandfather Smith was born in Virginia, in 1776. M. B. Thompson^ born in Washington County, Ky., Oct. 15, 1849, is the youngest of ten children of Barney and Elizabeth (Sandusky) Thompson, both natives of Kentucky. His father was born about 1803 and died in 1861. His mother was born in 1804 and is still a resident of Daviess County. His parents came to Digitized by Microsoft® 794 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Daviess County when be was quite small, and settled near Owens- boro. He was educated in the district school, and attended school at New Lebanon, Ind., one year. He was reared on a farm and has thus far foUdwed that occupation, with the exception of a year, from 1882 to 1883, when he was in the grocery business in Owens- boro. He now owns a farm of eighty-two acres, seven miles from Owensboro. Mr. Thompson married Bettie, daughter of George L. and Sarah (Glenn) Calhoon, a native of Daviess County, born Aug. 2, 1855. She is the seventh of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have one son — Roy B., born Feb. 15, 1880. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal and his wife of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 0. 8. Trice, farmer, was born in Logan County, Ky., Jan. 25, 1843. In 1862 he moved to Henderson County, and in 1867 came to Daviess County. His father, John Trice, was born in Virginia, March 30, 1800, and came to Kentucky when fifteen years of age, where he worked at the saddler's trade till middle age and then en- gaged in farming till his death, June 12, 1869. His mother, Ann (Priest) Trice, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., March 31, 1801; married June 7, 1825, and is the mother of seven children, six liv- ing— Martha, Francis, John W., James T., George R. and Oliver S. Oct. 13, 1872, Mr. Trice married Susan C. Marshall, a native of Nelson County, Ky., born Dec. 15, 1839. They have two chil- dren— John M., born June 27, 1875, and Henry C, born Sept. 7, 1878. Mr. Trice owns 108 acres of fine land in Sorghotown Pre- cinct, and is one of the thrifty farmers of Daviess County. Mr. and Mrs. Trice are members ot" the Baptist church. James R. Walker was born in Jefferson County, Ky., Oct. 22, 1836. In May, 1855, he enlisted in the regular army, Second United States Cavalry, Colonel Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Sydney Johnston, and served two years and seven months. Lee was ordered to West Point in 1856 and Johnston was left in command of the regiment. William Hardee, late of the Confed- erate army, was also Colonel of this regiment. In 1857 he was discharged by letter but remained in Texas till February, 1859, when he returned to Kentucky and lived on his farm, five miles south of Louisville, till 1870. He then moved into Louisville and remained there three years, when he came to Daviess County, and n )w lives two miles west of Sorghotown, on the Green River. July 26, 1862, he married Victorine Merrit, of Jefferson County, Ky. Twelve children have been born to them, ten now living — Henry B., Digitized by Microsoft® SORGHOTOWN PRECINCT. 795 R. M., Charles, Mary, James B., Augustus, John F., Yictoriiic R., Elizabeth and Gilinore. Mrs. Walker is a member of the Christian church. Edward Wilkinson, born in Oldham County, Ky., Oct. 2, 1856, was the son of James "Wilkinson. His father died when he was four years old, and his mother when he was nine. He then went to live with a Mr. Carpenter. He came to Daviess County when eighteen years of age. He worked at the blacksmith's trade six months, with John D.. Robertson, of Owensboro, and six months with Fred Hubbert, eight miles east of Owen&ooro, but his prin- cipal occupation has been farming. Mr. Wilkinson is a great lover of good books and all his [leisure time is spent in reading. He finds a friend in books that will never forsake him and one that will bring him friends from among his fellowmen. Mrs. Emily Winstead was born in Daviess County, Ky., Nov. 3, 1830, and has always lived within three miles of her birthplace. Her father, Isaac Crabtree, was born in Virginia, and came to Da- viess County when there were but two or three houses in Owens- boro. He died in 1847. tier mother, Sarah (Lamb) Crabtree, was a native of South Carolina, and died in 1872, aged seventy- four years. Mrs. Winstead was the fifth of their ten children that grew to maturity. She was married in 1846, to William M. Win- stead, a native of Daviess County, born in 1822. To them were born fourteen children, ten living — Stephen, Alberta, Kimbley, Mary L., Lily A. (now Mrs. Raferfy), Emily, Isaac, Ruth, May and Ivy. Mr. Winstead joined the Freemasons in July, 1857, and was instrumental in forming the lodge that bears his name. He was extolled Royal Arch Mason, Jan. 5, 1866. He died in February, 1878, and was buried by the Masons in Elmwood Cemetery. Mrs. Winstead owns 100 acres where she lives, and considerable other property in the vicinity of Owensboro. She is a member of the Baptist church, as was also her husband. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XXVI. UPPER TOWN PRECINCT. In 1867 this precinct was marked out as follows : Beginning with Precinct No. 1, at a point on the Ohio River in the center of the north end of Frederica street; thence southwardly along the middle of Frederica street to the middle intersection of Second or Main street; thence along the middle of Main street to a point opposite the middle of the north and south hall of the coort-hoose; thence through the middle of the court-house by the north and south hall and across the court-house lot to the middle of Third street; thence with Third street to the middle of Fr^erica street; thence southwardly along the middle of Freder- ica street and the Livermore road to Panther Creek; thence up Ktain Ptinther Creek to mouth of North Panther Creek; thence up North Panther Creek to the bridge over same where the Litch- field road crosses said creek; thence along the Litchfield road toward Owensboro to Caney Creek; thence up Caney Creek so as to exclude James McKinney'e; thence to Ben Allen's, excluding E. S. Jones's, "Wm. McKiiy's and said Allen's; thence to the Hardins- biirg road to Richard Jett's, including said Jett's and J. W. Gab- bert's; thence to the Pike's Peak school-house; thence with the old trace to David Clark's, excluding him ; thence to the nearest point to the new road and along said new road to the Barker road near C. Bell's; thence on a straight line to the intereSection of the Jo "Wright and Hawesville road; thence with the Jo Wright road to the Ohio River; thence down the Ohio River to the beginning. This is generally an upland precinct, and the land of good quality, much of it No. 1. There is some coal in the eastern portion, especially among the hills about Dr. Lockhart's. Near town are shafts sunk about iifly feet, where a three-and-half-foot vein is found. In the eastern jjortion the thickness is about four and a half feet. About all the land is under fence, and the popu- lation as dense as the average near large towns. The timber, which was once very abundant and of fine quality, is of course very scarce now. (796) Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWN PRECINCT. 797 EARLY SETTLEMENT. This precinct adjoins the city of Owensboro, and some of tlie earliest settlements in the county were made within its limits. One of the first settlements was made by Valentine Husk, who, after living two or three years at Yellow Banks, moved to a point on the Ohio River at the mouth of Pup Creek. Mr. Husk had seven children, the third of whom was George Husk, born in October, 1800. In 1809 Mr. Husk moved to a point now included in Knottsville Precinct. Robert Duncan, father /f Robert G. Dun- can, was one of the early pioneers of this precinct. He came here from Nelson County in 1816, and first settled on the banks of Yellow Creek and lived there for some time; but finding that titles to the land were not good, he moved to the vicinity of Yel- vington. Upper Town Precinct embraces the farms of Jo Daveiss and his brother, GeneralJohn Daveiss. The Daveiss farm was long known as Carnland, and was settled about 1806. About 1807 or '8, Thomas Clay, grandfather of Senator T. C. McCreery, and brother of General Green Clay, who was the father of Cassius M. Clay, settled seven miles above Owensboro, on a farm on the Yelvington road, now owned by Senator McCieery. Haphazard is the name of a farm three miles above town. DISTILLERIES. J. W. M. Field commenced to distill whisky in this precinct Feb. 3, 1873, three miles southeast of Owensboro, on the Pleasant Val- ley road. He commenced by manufacturing two and a half barrels a day, and gradually increased the quantity until 1881, when the capacity was increased to twenty-five barrels a day. Mr. Field is the sole owner of his distillery, never having had a partner con- nected with it. He has manufactured apple and peach brandy every fall from 1873 until 1880. Previous to this he had run distillery No. 28, of New Yelvington. His present distillerv is No. 3. A NEIGHBORHOOD BATTLE. In the spring of 1852 a difiiculty arose between the families of Ignatius Payne and William and George Turnbull, in regard to the building of a fence between the farms. The Turnbulls wanted to join fences, and the Paynes wanted a road between so that stock could pass back and forth. Turnbulls persisted and joined the fences, in spite of all opposition. Payne went out to move the Digitized by Microsoft® 798 HiaroBT of datibss ooumtt. fence, when the Tumbulls came out and commenced an attack, using butcher-knives for weapons. Mr. Payue and his son Georjife were killed, and John, James and Ignatius Payne were badly wounded. The women portion of the family fought as desperately as the men. This affray occurred six miles east of Owensboro, on the Pleasant Valley road, on what is now known as the John A. Payne farm. ELECTIONS. For t))e politics of the various parties, see Lower Town Precinct, 1852, Aug. 2: Sheriff— Landrum, 122; Yeech, 82. For railroad tax, 114; against, 89. 1854, Aug. 7: Appellate Judge— John H. McHenry, 180; H. J. Stites, 42. County Judge — A. G. Botts, 94; George D. Yeaman, 126. Commonwealth Attorney, Mitchell Calhoon, 42; Wm. Sweeney, 180. County Clerk — Graham Hughes, 74; James B. Watkins, 154. Sheriff — ^Robert P. Sharpe, 120; Joseph Harrison, 108. Assessor — Thomas Gore, 23; James Stillman, 19; George L. Hey wood, 132; James Lashbrook, 20; A. Johnson, 15. Sur- veyor— Samuel Shepherd, 194. Coroner — Wm. Johnson, 139; Harrison Manzy, 50. 1855, May 5: Justictss — N. McKay, 185; G. Dawson, 92; Elijah Griffin, 171. Constable— John Locke, 210. 1856, Aug. 4: Circuit Judge — Jesse W. Kincheloe, 189; James Stuart, 132. Commonwealth Attorney — B. H. Helm, 233. Cir- cuit Clerk — J.Thomas, 181; J. P. Thompson, 216. Sheriff— J. G. McFarland, 163; J. G. Harrison, 234. 1857, May 2: Constable — B.J. Montgomery, 26 ; John Locke, 217. 1859, Aug. 1: Governor — Beriah Magoffin, 224; J. F. Bell, 274. Congressman — S. O. Peyton, 240; James Jackson, 266. Eepresent- ative to Legislature — G. McFarland, 258; Thomas Landrnm, 262; Thomas G. "Watkins, 225. County Clerk— Marcus L. Ogden, 277. 1859, May 7: Justices — Thomas Monarch, 186; W. Crow 169- J. Holmes, 189; J. M. Rogers, 71. Constable— W. Brittain, 144; B. A. Vaughan, 191. 1861, June 20: Congressman, John T. Bunch, 240; James S. Jackson, 168. 1861, Aug. 2: State Treasurer— G. Terry, 8; J. H. Garrard, 209 Senator — J. B. Vance, 280; "Wm. Anthony, 139. Representative to Legislature— C. T. Noel, 273; G. H. Yeaman, 263. Digitized by Microsoft® UrPEK TOWN PRECINOT. 799" 1862, Aug. 4: Appellate Judge— R. A. "Williams, 164. Circuit Judge — James Stuart, 18; H. B. Wall, 183. Common wealth Attorney— John Chapeze, 137; J. J. Harrison, 18. Presiding Judge— T. L. Beers, 61; A. Gr. Botts, 117. Circuit Clerk— Joseph Thomas, 182. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 178. Sheriff— J. G. Harrison, 194. County Attorney— H. S. McFarland, 186. Assessor — V. L. Moseley,143. Surveyor — N. W. Scott, 61. Cor- oner— R. Richardson, 2; Joshua Hinds, 5; J. W. Rosa, 147. 1862, Oct. 27: Congressman— G. H. Yeaman, 148; Edward R. Weir, 14. 1862, Dec. 8: Representative to Legislature — John S. McFar- land, 118. 1863, Aug. 3: Governor — Thomas E. Bramlette, 157. Congreas- raan — G. H. Yeaman, 160; J. H. McHenry, 62. Representative to Legislature — J. S. McFarland, 162. 1864, Aug. 1: Sheriff— J. G. Harrison, 171; A. J. McAtee,119. Marshal — D. Webb, 87; John Brannon, 28. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 252. 1864, Nov. 8: Presidenl^Geo. B. McClellan, 200; A. Lincoln, 16. 1865, May 6: Constable— Phil. Coppage, 71; John Taylw, 112 1865, Aug. 7: Congressman — Geo. H. Yeaman, 116; B. C. Bit- ter, 84. State Treasurer— W. S. Neale, 82; J. H. Garrard, 3T. Senator— A. D. Cosby, 81. Representative to Legielatni'e, J. Yeech, 72; T. Maddux, 113. Coroner— A. M. Mayo, 12^. 1866, Aug. 6: Appellate Clerk— E. H. Hobson, 106; A. Dnvalj 343. County Judge— E. C. Berry, 56; J. S. McFarland, 107; G. W. Triplett, 276. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 12d; J. M. Hughes, 99; B. Duncan, 29; T. C.Jones, 199. Sheriff— W. H. Perkins, 231; E. A. Hathaway, 194. County Attorney — A. R. Taylor, 241; Thomas Crutcher, 146. Coroner— H. O'Brien, 98. Assessor— J. W. Onan, 349; J. J. Talbotf, 20; J. D. Moseiey, 19. Surveyor — A. W. Scott, 311. For railroad tax, 198; against, nd votes reported. 1867, April 15: For county sfockof $250,000 in the wensboro , 1860, and Juliet E., born May 14, 1864. Mr. Botts is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is neutral in his political views. John A. Brown was born on the 31st day of March, 1845, about three miles south of Owensboro, Daviess Co., Ky., where he re- mained until the 14th day of August, 1862, when he enlisted in the U. S. army, in Company E, Thirty-eighth Kentucky Mounted Infantry (Colonel Gabriel Netter), Aug. 15, 1862. Colonel Netter was killed in a skirmish with the enemy near Owensboro, Ky., Oct. 19, 1S62. The regiment was then transferred to the Digitized by Microsoft® 804 H1ST0E1 OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry (Colonel Q. C. Shanks). Spent the winter of 1862-'3 at Munfordville, Ky., constantly engaged in scouting and skirmishing incident to the cavalry service, the principal of which was hovering on the flank of John Morgan's command when he made his celebrated raid, destroying the trus- sell work on the L. & M. R. E., near Elizabethtown, Ky. The severest fight with him was at the mouth of Younger's Creek, on the Rolling Fork, about Dec. 29, 1862. Starting about the first of July, 1863, they pursued Morgan through Kentucky to Branden- burg where he crossed the Ohio River; thence through Indiana and Ohio to Buifington Island, Ohio, where, on the 22d of July, the greater part of his command was captured. The regiment be- came a part of Wolford's Independent Brigade, accompanying General Burnside to East Tennessee, and was in a severe engage- ment at Philadelphia, Tenn., Oct. 20, 1863, where they were sur- rounded and cut their way out, sustaining a heavy loss. Falling back to London they engaged the enemy for several days in suc- cession; was in a severe skirmish at Maryville, Tenn., in Novem- ber, 1863; participated in the two days engagement in front ot Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 17 and 18, 1863, in which General Saun- ders was killed, holding Longstreet in check until General Burnside could prepare for the siege which followed, lasting about three weeks; was in several severe engagements during the siege; started in pursuit of the enemy, with whom they had an engagement at BeansStation, Tenn., Dec. 15,1863; then at Mossy Creek and Dan- dridge and Flat Gap and Fair Gardens ; in the latter engagement Mr. Brown received a gun-shot wound in the left arm on the 28th of Jan- ary, 1864. The regiment was assigned to General Stoneman's Cavalry Corps accompanying General Sherman's army on the Atlanta cam- paign; was in several engagements, continually as they advanced from Tunnell Hill until the fall of Atlanta; was with General Stone- Inan on the raid into Virginia which resulted in the destruction of the salt works near Abingdon, in December, 1864. Mr. Brown was one of the 180 nnder command of Major J. B. Harrison who made the daring raid in the rear of the enemy at Saltville, cutting off their communication and preventing re-enforcements, going up the railroad burning bridges until they reached Marion, Ya., when they took to the mountains, crossing over into Rye Yalley, N. C, continually besst by a superior force of the enemy. Here they en- countered a w*' on train with a strong guard. He was one of eight or ten composi; • the rear guard, under command of Lieutenant Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWN PEECINCT. 805 Mitchell, who was ordered to remain b:ihiiid and cut out the mules and mount the colored teamsters, which daring feat they accom- plished successfully in the face of tlie guard. On the next morn- ing he was one of five, then composing the rear guard, who were intercepted by seven rebels well armed and mounted ; they killed one and captured the other six. They re joined General Stoneman near Moseburg, East Tenn., after being separated for several days. Returning to Kentucky, they were re-fitted, and accompa- nied General Stoneman on his great raid thro'i.gh East Tennessee to Ghristiansburg, Va. ; thence to Salisbury, N. C, in March and April, 1865, where they had a severe engagement, resulting in the capture of the place and the destruction of the Confederate arsenal, containing a large amount of ordnance stores; going thence to "Western North Carolina, capturing Asheville; then through South Carolina into Georgia. They remained on the Savannah River until the 20th of May when the President's proclamation of am- nesty expired, which virtually ended the war; was mastered out at Louisville, Ky., Sept. 7, 1865. He returned home and worked on a farm until the spring of 1868, when he went to learn the carpen- ter's trade and worked at it until the spring of 1874, wlien he en- gaged in the queen's-ware business a year and then worked at his trade again till May, 1877. He then entered the United States Internal Revenue service as Storekeeper and Gauger and served in that capacity until about August, 1879, when he was commissioned as U. S. Internal Revenue Storekeeper, in which capacity he still remains. He is a member of Owensboro Lodge, No. 130, A. F. & A. M. ; Brothers' Lodge, No. 132, I. O. O. F. ; Owensboro Encamp- ment No. 45, I. 0. O. F.; Star Lodge No. 19, K. of P., and Gen. James S. Jackson Post, No. 3, G. A. R., Department of Kentucky, all of which are held in Owensboro, Ky. L. P. Castlen, son of John L. and Elizabeth Castlen, was born in Madison, Ind., Oct. 11, 1833. His parents were natives of Vir- ginia, his father born in 1800 and liis mother March 19, 1804. His father died in 1835 of cholera, and his mother is still living with her son. There was a family of five children, only three now liv- ing— John, Orrelton (now Mrs. George Heal, of Oldham County, Ky.), and the subject of onr sketch. Alter the death of his father the family moved to Oldham County, Ky. In 1855 Mr. Castlen married Fannie Minnis and moved to McLean County, where he lived seven years, and in 1862 came to Daviess County. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Castlen — John W., Florence Digitized by Microsoft® 806 HISTOBY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. and Fannie. Mrs. Castlen died in 1861. Oct. 22, 1867, Mr. Oast- len married ElmlraGillim, a native of Daviess County, born Oct. 12, 1848. They have had four children— Frank, born Dec. 9, 1868, died Nov. 16, 1880; Novel, born May 31, 1871, died Feb. 5, 1879; Lucy, born Jan. 6, 1874; an infant, born Sept. 20, 1877, died Oct. 25, 1877. Mrs. Castlen's parents, James and Elizabeth (Newsome) Gillim, were both natives of Kentucky. Her mother died May 18, 1870; her father is still a resident of this county. They had a fam- ily of twelve children, eight now living — Charles, Frank, Rebecca, James, Elmira, Nettie, Alexander and John. Joseph A. Clark was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., Nov. 16, 1843. His parents moved to Nelson County when he was an infant, and returned to Breckinridge County when he was four years old. In March, 1864, he came to Daviess County, where he now has a well-improved farm of 112 acres five miles southeast of Owensboro. Jan. 23, 1866, he married Laura, daughter of J. F. Brown. She was born in Hardinsburg, Ky., in May, 1843. They have four children — Embert A., born Oct. 23, 1866; Mary E., Sept. 14,1872; Modesta, July 31, 1876; Ellen, March 28, 1878. Mr. Clark and his family are members of St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Owensboro. Mr. Clark's father, T. Clark, was born in Maryland, in 1812, and died in 1876, in Owensboro. His mother, Mary Ann (Speak) Clark, was born in 1816, and died March 12, 1865, leaving four children — James T.; Margaret, now the widow of Caleb Brown ; Joseph A. ; Martha Ann, now Mrs. William B. Daveiss. One brother, Felix Thaddens, started with eighty others under Linsey Rhodes, to join the Confederate army, and was capt- ured near Mammoth Cave, Ky., and sent to Johnson's Island. From there he was exchanged and sent to Vicksbnrg. He went to Chattanooga, and has never since been heard from. Fred TT. Clarke, with M. V. Monarch & Co., insurance agents, and Vice-President of the Sour Mash Distilling Company, was born July 17, 1859, in Cumberland County, Ya., and was educated in the University of Virginia. He was a son of William H. and Sarah C. (White) Clarke, both natives of Virginia, his father born in March, 18'29, and his mother in 1831. His father was educated in the University of Virginia, and is a member of- the firm of William H. Clarke & Co., tobacconists. His mother was educated in Steubenville, Ohio. They were married in 1855, and have two eons — Edward H. and Fred W. Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWN PRECINCT. 807 Benjamin D. Coomes^ son of B. D. and Corrilla (Ford) Coomep, was born in Daviess County, on the farm where he still resides) Jan. 28, 1855. His father is a native of Nelson Connty, Kj., born in 1809, and his mother of Ohio County, Ky., born in 1818. They have five children — F. N., John T., W. P., Benjamin D. and Corrilla. Benjamin D. was educated in this county, and is still living with and assisting his father in carrying on the farm. His father came to Daviess County when a young man, and now owns 240 acres of well-improved land, three miles south of Owens- boro. In religious faith the family are Catholics. Zachariah Cruse was born in Olden County, Ky., Feb. 11, 1820. His father, Thomas Cruse, was born in Virginia, and came to Ken- tucky at an early day. He wasmarriel in 1817, to Rachel Barn- hill, a native of Olden County, Ky., born in 1802. They had three children — Zachariah, Elizabeth and J. B. Thomas Cruse was killed in Owensboro, Ky., in August, 1824, by Joseph Pottp, through a mistake, thinking he was another man. He was the first man killed in Owensboro. Mrs. Ciuse was afterward married to Jasper Bristow. She died in 1869. Zachariah Cruse was mar- ried in 1844 to Elizabeth Obenchain, a native of Hancock County, Ky., born in 1824. They had two children, only one now living — J. S., born July 28, 1849. He still lives on the farm with his parents. He was married March 18, 1875, to Minnie Rarick, a na- tive of Breckinridge County, Ky., born Nov. 5, 185fi. Mr. Cruse owns 180 acres of fine well-improved land four miles from Owens- boro. Isaiah C. Daniel., farmer, was born in Shelby Connty, Ky., Nov. 13, 1834. He came to Daviess County with his parents in 1S36, and was reared and educated in this county. He studied medicine when a young man, btit never practiced his profession. He owns a farm of eighty-five acres three miles southeast of Owens- boro, where he resides. Dec. ^0, 1857, he married Sarah C. Nuckols, a native of Goochland Counts', Va., born Feb. 10, 1833. They have six children— Virginia P., born Oct. 31, 1858; Jacob H., Jan. 17, 1861; Anna J., Dec. 30. 1864; Stonewall Jackson, Aug. 17. 1866; Charles T., July 11, 1870; Ernest C, An^l,^ 7. 1872. Mrs. Daniel died April 5, 1881. Mr. Daniel is a member of the Baptist church. His father, Leonard Danie', was born in King William County, Va., in 1801. and died in 1861, in Daviess C.mnty, Ky. His mother. Maria (Cox) Daniel, was born in Goochland County, Va., in 1808, and died in 1866. They had a family of seven children, Isaiah being the second. Digitized by Microsoft® SOS HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. W. IL. FaM, was born in Kentucky, Oct. 19, 1836. For sev- eral years after the war he dealt largely in live-stock, handling more than any other man in the coimty. From 1870-'72 he was a partner in the firm of Glaypool & Co., pork packers. During the winter he was in the South, superintending the sale of their provision, and, having more experience, was also the purchaser for their extensive business. He dissolved partnership with the lirm and was afterward employed by them at $375 per month during the pork season. From 1874-'77 he operated in the grain and provision market on the Chicago Board of Trade, buying on the margin, which proved disastrous. During this time he was Director in the Bowling Green woolen mills, and also in the head and stave factory. In 1880 he came to Daviesa County and was employed in the United States revenue service, twenty-one months. During the winter of 1881-'8:3 he was associated with a .firm in which he made $15,000. In iiugust, 1882, he resigned his posi- tion in the revenue department and is now engag ed in the live- stock and produce business. In 1870 he was nominated on the Republican ticket as Representative to the Lower House of the Legislature, but was defeated by 400 majority. The Democratic majority was 1,000, so he ran ahead of his ticket by 600 votes. Mr. Fant is a member of Bowling Green Lodge, No. 73, A. F, & A. M. ; has taken nine degrees. He is a Director in the Masonic Life Insurance Company, of Bowling Green. He is also a mem- ber of the Knights of Honor, at Bawling Green. Dec. 11, 1878, Mr. Fant was married to Kate A., daughter of Colonel Joel Ruffner, of Charleston, W. Va., where she was born in 1844. They have one child — Josie R. Mr. Fant is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Captain Benjamin Field was born in Virginia, Nov. 14, 1755, and came to Kentucky about 1786, going first to Danville. He was a surveyor, and surveyed the land from Covington, Ky., to Daviess County, and from Owensboro to Lewis Station. He was married in 1790 to Mildred Slaughter, a native of Culpeper County, Va. In November, 1795, lie started with his wife aud three chil- dren, for Yellow Banks, now Owensboro. Dec. 24, 1795, he landed there, left his family in the-.pirogue, went twelve miles south and put up a cabin, returned for his family, and ripped up the pirogue f)r a covering for the house. He built the first cabin between Yellow B inks and Hartford. There was a fort at Hartford and one at Vienna, now Cilhijon. His wife was a beautiful dancer; danced Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWX PRECINCT. 809 the minuet with a pint cup of water on her head without spilling a drop. Captain Field sent his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, to a dancing school at Hartford. She wanted a new pair of shoes, and, as they had to send toBardstown for such supplies, she was afraid she would not get them in time. Her father told lier she should have the si so he had a sheep killed, dressed the skin and made her a nice p of white slippers. When they were soiled she staiued them th poke berries and thought them as good as new. The ladies in those days carded, spun and wove their own dresses, and Captain Field's daughters were no exc option. They were taught to spin and weave when they were so small that it took two of them to manage the loom. At one time there was to be a ball, and Elizabeth made herself a new dress for the occasion. The warp was so fine that her father drew the web through a ring be- fore it was put in the loom. Captain and Mrs. Field had a family of nine children — John was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was at the battle of New Orleans. He married Rachel McFarland, of Daviess County. Elizabeth married Colonel "William Newton. Lucy married James Daviess; he died and she afterward married Kichard L. May. William first married Nancy McMiUen, of Clark County; his second wife was Elizabeth McFarland, and his third, Mrs. Lucy McGee. Fannie married Squire James Newton, of Culpeper County, Va. James and Joshua never married. Thomas married Arabella Morton, of Maryland. Willis married Louisa McFarland, daughter of Captain Eobert McFarland. At one time, after high water on Panther Creek flats, Captain Field found a large sturgeon. He tied to it his horse's tail and dragged it, some six miles, home. The family gathered round, supposing it to be dead, when suddenly it showed unmistakable signs of life, by giving a plunge and knocking his daughter, Mrs. Newton, then a little girl, over. Ca'ptain Field died Jan. 2, 1842, and is buried on tiie old "Shoemaker farm," in Murray Precinct. His wife died in 1S53. Benjamin T. Field, burn in Daviess County, Ky., March 26, 1S42, is a son of Thomas P'ield, also a native of this county, born in 1805, and died in 1S47. His granrllather. Captain Benj. Field, was a Captain in the war of the Revolution, and died in Daviess County- in ]S-±2. Benjamin T. was educated in this county and was roared o\\ the same farm where he now lives and which his father gave him. He was married Dec. 14, 1869, to Mattie Hurt, a native of Salem, Ya. , born Aug. 12, 1851. Tlieyhave fivechil- Digitized by Microsoft® 810 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. dren — Thonias C, born Jan. 31, 1871; John W., born Jan. 21, 1873; Bettie B., born Oct. 21, 1875; Ella P., born Nov. 16, 1877; and Newton, born Nov. 1, 1879. During the late war Mr. Field served three years in the Tenth Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, under John Morgan. He was captured by the Home Guards in Virginia while trying to make his escape from Ohio when Morgan made his raid through Ohio. He was paroled but never exchanged. Mr. Field owns 142 acres of good land, three and a half miles from Owensboro. He is a member of the Baptist church. Robert F. Ooode, son of J. P. and Mary J.(Morris) Goode, was born in Casey County, Ky., Aug. 29, 1847. His father was born in Missouri, March 26, 1826, and died May 7, 1879. His mother was born in Casey Coutty, Ky., July 4, 1827. Kobert is the eld- est of fourteen children, twelve of whom are living. He lived on a farm till fifteen years of age, when he enlisted in the Thirteenth Kentucky Federal Cavalry and served three years. After the war he worked on a farm several years, and bought tobacco for Hugh Kerr & Co. five seasons. Dec. 8, 1880, he was appointed United States Storekeeper by the Government. March 20, 1870, he was married toEliza Ann Clements, a native of Casey County, Ky.,born Nov. 14, 1852. Six children have been born to them, five now living— Lizzie E., born April 22, 1871; Evalina, born Nov. 10, 1874; Janie B., born Aug. 8, 1876; Sudy A., born Feb. 2, 1880; Arthur, born Feb. 10,1881. Mr. Goode joined the Masonic frater- nity in 1875, and has been a Master Mason six years. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, No. 3, Department of Ken- tucky. I'. Henry C. Gfaham, born in Logan County, Ky., Jan. 4, 1843, is a son of John T. and Martha (Tatum) Graham, both natives of Logan County, his father born in 1805, and his mother in 1825. His mother died in 1857. Of a family of seven children, but four are living — Rebecca, Lucy, 'Henry C. and Cassey. Henry C. enlisted in September, 1801, in the Ninth Kentucky Confederate Infantry. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Yicksburg, Baton Rouge, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Jackson, Missionary Ridge, Kene- saw Mountain, etc.. and was never wounded, all his regiment but five being killed before the war closed. He was taken prisoner at Jonesboro, and was confined at Camp Douglas six months. In 1878 he was married to Mattie F. Decker, a native of Owensboro, born July 26, 1851 . They have two children — Anna L. and Henry Lee. Mrs. Graliam is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWN PRECINCT. 811 Her father, Wm. H. Decker, was born in Meade County, Ky., in June, 1826. Her mother, Mary C. (Horn) Decker, was born in Daviess County, April 28, 1833, and died Oct. 11, 1856. They had a family of four children — Martha F., -Laura T., Nathaniel H. and Mary C. William W. Gregory was born Jan. 7, 1803, in Washington County, Ky. In the spring of 1824 he removed to Jefferson County and i-emained there till May -i, 1864, when he went to Han- cock County and lived till 1866. He then came to Daviess County, and in 1869 bought a farm of 105 acres, seve.. miles northeast of Owensboro. He was married Jan. 28, 1835, to Susan Butler, a na- tive of Jefferson County, Ky., born in April, 1815. Eight children have been born to them — L. L., married Katie McAdams and has three children — Samuel, Susan and Katie L. ; Richard P., married Trica Beard and has five children — Joseph B., Ada, Susan W., Bettieand William; William W., Jr., married Cornelia A. Covert; Narcissa A., married W. W. Morris, of Yelvington, and has two children — Edna L. and Bettie M. ; Elizabeth M., married Oscar Madden, and has two children — Julia and Oscar L. ; John E., mar- ried Lizzie Fairfield and has two children — Ross M. and Russell B.; Alexander V.; Charles B., married Abra Scanks, and has one child — Fern. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory were married on the 28th day of January, 1835, and a son was born Jan. 28, 1840, Jan. 28, 1860 and Jan. 28, 1856. Oeorge S. Hayden (deceased), one of the pioneers of Daviess County, Ky., was born near New Hope, Nelson Co., Ky., Nov. 15, 1810, a son of George and Mary (Elliot) Hayden, natives of Mary- land, who came to Washington County, Ky., at an early day. They had a large family, and George S. was the youngest. George S. was reared on a farm in Nelson County, and was married there to Miss Delphenia Elder, May 4, 1833. She was a daughter of Dr. Guy and Mary (Birch) Elder. The summer following his marriage he came to Daviess County, settling on his farm in Upper Town Precinct. His wife died here in October, 1839. They had three children — James D., born May 3, 1834, died June 2, 1837; Lucy A., born Aug. 11, 1836, is the wife of Wilferd J. Hayden ; Mary Y., born Sept. 9, 1838, wife of John H. Payne, both residing in Upper Town Precinct. June 2, 1840, Mr. Hayden married Miss M. Teresa Burch. She was born in Hardin County, Ky., March 17, 1822, a daughter of John H. and Mary A. (Greenwell) Burch. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hayden settled on the old farm Digitized by Microsoft® 812 HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOONTi". in Upper Town Precinct, where his wife still resides, and where he died May 4, 1876. They had a family of thirteen children — Vir- ginia A., born March 11, 1841, married Wm. H. Monarch; Robert H., born Dec. 20, 1842, died Sept. 16, 1878; Margaret E., born Feb. 14, 1845, married John W. Hagan, who died Oct. 26, 1882; J. Artelia, born Feb. 11, 1847; George S., Jr., born Jan. 25, 1849, died Dec. 31, 1852; Nannie T., born March 11, 1850, married S. W. Osborne; C. W., born April 15, 1853, resides on the old home- stead with his mother, engaged in farming; Eva E., born May 16, 1856, married William W. Elandford, Jan. 23, 1883; Joshua B., born April 2, 1858, is employed in the " Famous" clothing house of St. Louis, Mo.; H. Walter, born March 22, 1860, is a farmer and stock-dealer of Curdsville Precinct; Frank X., born May 5, 1862; George S., born April 8, 1865, and Teresa G., born Feb. 22, 1868. The last three reside at home with their mother. The family are all members of the Catholic church. Mr. Hayden was not only one of the pioneers of Daviess County, but was a good neighbor and a representative citizen, loved and respected by all who knew him. W. J. Hayden was born Feb. 25, 1830, in Hardin County, Ky. His parents, William and Nancy (Hardin) Hayden, were from Washington County, Ky., having removed to Hardin County several years before his birth. W. J. was the sixth child. He remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. He then entered a carpenter's shop, and after three years' diligent study and hard labor became a skilled mechanic. In 1853 he came to Daviess County. In 1856 he married the oldest daughter of G. S. Hayden, a well-known and respected farmer living near Owensboro, and wlio was one of the pioneers of Daviess County. In 1859 he re- turned to Hardin County, purchased a larm three miles west of Elizabethtown, where he lived until 1872, when the health of him- self and family rendered it necessary for him to return. In 1873 lie returned with his family, purchased land of Miss Mary J. New- ton, four and a half miles east of Owensboro, where he has now lived ten years, an honest and respected citizen. James A. Head was born in Bullitt County, Ky., March 16, 1S20, and came to Daviess County in 1831. His father's family came in 1832. Since that time^he has never been out of the county but twice. He has a farm of eighty-four and a half acres, five miles east of Owensboro. He was married in November, 1856, to Louisa Payne, a native of Daviess County, born Nov. 13, 1830. They have six children — George A., Susan V., Edgar, Eugene, Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWN PBEOINCT. 813 Oscar, Anna B. Mr. Head and his family are all members of the Catholic church. He. has served his township as School Trustee and Overseer of Highways. John It. Hill, farmer, was born in Nelson County, Ky., Nov. 21, 1835, and came to Daviess County with his parents in 1856. He is a son of Martin and Anastasia (Hagan) Hill, both natives of Nelson County, Ky. His father was born Aug. 15, 1801, and died in January, 1868. His mother was born in 1804 and died Aug. 6, 1856. There was a family of eleven children — Cynthia Ann, Bernard, Cyperan, Catherine, Amanda, Permc'ia, John R., Mary Jane, Louisa, William and Francis. John R. has never married, but has two sisters keeping house for him. He has been Overseer of Highways eighteen years. He is a Catholic in religious faith. Mr. Hill attended school at Troy, Ind., in the winter of 1863-'4:. WiUiam Hill, born in Nelson County, Ky., July 2, 1844, was a son of Martin and Apna S. (Hagan) Hill, both natives of Nelson County, his father born in 1812 and his mother in 1815. His grandfather, Henry Hill, a native of Maryland, was one of the first settlers of Nelson County. His mother died at Grissom's Landing in 1855, and his father in 1871. "William was the tenth of eleven children. He lived on a farm till seventeen years old, when he enlisted in Company K, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry, and served 120 days. From 1863 till 1879 he carried on a saw-mill. He then formed a partnership in a distillery, under the firm name of Hays & Hill. In June, 1880, T. G. Hill bought Hays's interest and the firm became Hill & Hill. Mr. Hill was married Dec. 20, 1866, to Mary C. Boulware, a native of Olden County, Ky., born in 1845. They have three children — Charles, born Oct. 11, 1868; Ida, C, born Feb. 11, 1871, and John, born April 14, 1873. Mr. Hill is a member of the Catholic church. William T. Horn, born in Daviess County, Ky., April 29, 1831, was a son of Natlianiel and Catherine (Hayes) Horn, natives of Madison County, Ky., his father born in 1800, and his mother in 1807. His mother died in 1872, and his father in 1875. They had a family of ten children, only four of whom are living — B. F., Samuel H., William T. and John 0. Mr. Horn was reared on a farm and received his education in this county. After reaching his majority he worked two years in a saw-mill; the rest of his life has been spent in farming. He now owns a good farm of 144^ acres, seven miles east of Owensboro. He was married Nov. 24, 1853, to Nancy J. Ford, a native of Daviess County, born Feb. 21, Digitized by Microsoft® S14 HI8TOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 1838. They have seven children — Carmethus, born April 8, 18.56; William W.,May 18, 1858; Virginia B., Oct. 13, 1861; Olara, Jan. 24, 1864; John S., Jan. 4, 1867; Nannie, Aug. 3, 1869; Nathan- iel, Oct. 24, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Horn are members of the Bap- tist church. Mr. Horn is a member of Mark Lodge, No. 318, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Horn's father, John S. Ford, was born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1813, and died July 22, 1879. Her mother, Nancy (Haynes) Ford, was born in Daviess County, March 5, 1818. They had a family of six children — Nancy J., Ferine, Virginia B., Kate, Elisha J., Merritt C. D. D. Jones was born in Daviess County, Ky., Aug. 24, 1834. His father, Gilbert Jones, was born in North Carolina, and came to Daviess County in 1822, where he died in 1858. His mother, Sallie Jones, was born in North Carolina and died in Daviess County in 1857. He was married Sept. 23, 1858, to Margaret Trumbull, a native of Kentucky, born in 1836. They have five children — Anna Amelia, Fanny Clay, Clemence, Arabella and Cora Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the M. S. church. Politically he is a Democrat. He owns a farm of thirty- five acres eight miles from Owensboro. William J. Jones was born in Daviess County, Feb. 28, 1849, and is a son of Andrew F. and Harriet E. (Sordridge) Jones, na- tives of Daviess and Henry counties, respectively, his father born March 25, 1826, and his mother Aug. 22, 1826. They have five children — William J., Laura A. (Mrs. Lee Bell), Bettie (Mrs. G. H. Lancaster), Nannie E. and J. W. Mr. A. F. Jones is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. William J. resides with his father, and works on the farm in the summer and at the carpenter and builder's trade in the winter. W. R. Kirk was born in Daviess County, Ky., May 1, 1844. His father, William Kirk, was born in North Carolina in 1807, and came to Kentucky in 1827, where he died in 1880. His mother, Susan Ann (Bassett) Kirk, was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 1808, and is still living eight miles east of Owensboro. W. K. is the tenth of fourteen children, seven of whom are living. He was reared on a farm and educated in this county. He still follows the occupation of a farmer, living at present eight miles east of Owensboro with his brother, John P. Kirk. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist church. Politically he is a Democrat. Digitized by Microsoft® uppp:r town precinct. 815 Jacob Leibfried was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Oct. 15, 1819. He came to America in 1S49, landed in New York, and a few days later came to Louisville, Ky. He remained there two jears, working at the boot and shoe maker's trade, and in 1851 came to Owensboro, where he worked at his trade sixteen years. He then bought a farm of forty-eight acres, two miles southeast of Owensboro, where he now has 120 acres of well-improved land. About twelve years ago lie discovered a three-foot vein of coal of a good quality on his land. He has rented it and gets one cent per bushel for ail the coal mined. In 185i he married Katie Knoll, a native of Hesse, Germany, born in 1832. Nine children were born to them — William, Lettie, Lizzie, Jacob, Charles, Mary, Rose, Henry, George. Mrs. Leibfried died Aug. 2, 1879. Mr. Leibfried is a member of the Harigari Lodge, Owensboro. James B. Long, born in Shelby County, Ky., March 30, 1821, came to Daviess County with his parents in 1828. His parents both died in 1830, his father on a steamboat, while en route to Louisville, and his mother in this county. They had a family of three children — James B., John G. and Nicholas. James B. was married Feb. 1, 1842, to Elizabeth C. Howard, a native of Daviess County, born Oct. 25, 1824. They have five children — John G. , Howard T., Katie (now Mrs. E. J. Ford), Thomas S. and Laura G. Mr. Long is by trade a brickmason. In 1860 he bought the farm of 185 acres, where he now resides, about four miles east of Owens- boro. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. They are also, with their son and daughter, Thomas and Laura, members of Lostntter Lodge, No. 1,127, I. 0. G. T. Mrs. Long's parents came from North Carolina, about sixty-five years ago. Her father. Rev. John G. Howard, was a minister of the Baptist church about forty years,- and died in Owensboro, in 1874. Mrs. Long is the only child now living. William Lostutter, son of John and Delila (Robertson) Lostutter, was born in Rising Sun, Ind., April 27, 1840. He came to Daviess County in 1874, and bought a farm of 240 acres, five miles east of Owensboro. March 16, 1867, he married Rebecca J. Hemphill, a native of Rising Sun, born Jan. 17, 1848. They have four chil- dren—Harry H., born March 24, 1868; Carroll C, June 4, 1871; William T., Oct. 10, 1873; John R., Nov. 5, 1878. Mrs. Lostutter's parents are residents of Indiana.. They have eight children — Re- becca J., William T., Mary E., Joseph P. (Auditor of Ohio County, Ind.), James S., Lucy A., Fannie B. and Grant. Mr. Lostutter is a member of the I. 0. O. F. fraternity. Digitized by Microsoft® 816 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. / T. J/ariSm was born in Shelby County, Ky.,Feb. 17, 1826, and was a son of John P. Martin, a native of Virginia, who died in Shel- byville in 1867. I. T. was the fourth of seven children. He wtfs married Nov. 16, 1848, to Martha M. Owen, a native of Franklin County, Ky. They have four children^Benjaminj Martha E., Josephine and Fannie. Mr. Martin lived in Shelby County till twenty-two years of age, and then came to Daviess County, where he now owns 115 acres of good land, eight miles east of Owensboro, on the Litchfield road. Politically he is a Democrat. 'William Martin was born in County Down, Ireland, March 9, 1809. In the spring of 1831 he came to America, landing at Quebec, and from there went to Buffalo, and remained till 1832. He left there on account of cholera and went to Pittsburg, Pa., and remained there six months; then went to Cincinnati and soon after obtained employment on a steamboat as carpenter. Six months later he went to Maysville, Ky., and worked at his trade eighteen months. Oct. 16, 1834, he married Elizabeth A. Oram, a native of Baltimore, Md., born Nov. 4, 1814. After his marriage he went to Natchez, Miss., and lived there four years, and then went to Concordia Parish, La. He made several trips to Mary- land, Kentucky and St. Louis, and finally bought 100 acres in J ferson County, Ky. He lived there three years and then exchange^ it for property in New Orleans. He lived there a year and thei. bought a farm on Yellow Creek, Daviess County. In 1860 he bought 125 acres six miles from Owensboro, where he still re- sides. Two children have been born to him, only one now living — William A., born Feb. 20, 1840. Mrs, Martin has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1832. Mr. Martin in his religious views is an Episcopalian. W . E. Miller^ born in Daviess County, Ky., Aug. 6, 1860, is a son of P. J. and Julia Ann Miller, both natives of Kentucky, He was married in 1872 to Emma Shouse, a native of Daviess County, born in 18.54. Their children are — AUabell, James J., Minnie, Arthur, and Fleming. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Macedonia Baptist church. He owns a farm of 115 acres six and a half miles from Owensboro. He is the present Road Supervisor of Pleasant Grove District, No. 31. Enos Mo Cormlclc, son of Francis and Priscilla (Newton) Mc- Cormick, was born in Masonville Precinct, Daviess Co., K}'., Sept. 18, 1838. His educational advantages were limited, but he attended the Bloomington, Ind., University a short time. April Digitized by Microsoft® trPPEE TOWN PEECINCT. 817 2, 1867, he married Martha J. Cundiff, a native of Muhlenberg County, Ky., born Jan. 26, 1847. In the winter of 1867-8 Mr. McCormick bought a farm near Green Brier church where he lived three years. In 1871 lie bought his present farm in Upper Precinct, where he has sixty-live acres under a good state of culti- vation. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have three children — George, born April 2, 1874; Thomas F., July 10, 1876; Maggie B., Dec. 7, 1881. They have lost four children— John, born May 25, 1870, died March 22, 1871; James O., born May 8, 1871, died June 30, 1876; Elsie M., born March 28, 1880, died Jan. 16, 1881; Ellis, born Oct. 13, 1878, died Nov. 20, 1881. Mrs. McCormick's par- ents, Thomas F. and Margaret Ann (Stone) Cundiff, came to Daviess County in 1845 and settled on a farm in Masonville, where her father died April 1, 1877, and where her mother still lives. They had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. James K. McCormick, born Feb. 3, 1828, in Masonville Pre- cinct, Daviess Co., Ky., was a son of Francis and Priscilla (Newton) McCormick. His father was a native of Culpeper County, Va., born Feb. 22, 1801, and came to Nelson County, Ky., when he was four years old, with his parents. He came to Daviess County in 1825, where he died in 1876. His mother was born in Daviess County, and was a daughter of Benj. Newton, an early settler of this county. She died in 1840. There was a family of seven children — John, James, Enos, Ben, Mary Ann (de- ceased), Diana, Elizabeth. Mr. McCormick married for his second wife Mrs. Nancy (Walker) Roberts, who still lives in Masonville. They had six children — Martha, William, Priscilla, Daniel H., Emmitt, Clara P. James K. McCormick was married in 1849 to Martha, daughter of Hugh Walker, a native of Todd County, Ky., who came to Daviess County when nine years of age. They have one child — Amelia, now Mrs. George H. Lewis. Two children are deceased — Francis, at the age of twenty months, and Susan, aged fourteen years. In 1865 Mr. McCormick bought his farm in Murray Precinct, now annexed to Owensboro, consisting of 119 acres, un- der a good state of cultivation. Thomas Monarch. — The Monarch family are of French origin. Thomas Monarch's grandfather was born in France, and on coming to America settled in Maryland. Francis Monarch, the father of our subject, was born in Maryland, and there married Mrs. Eliza- beth Melton, wliose maiden name had been Mattingly. Francis 53" Digitized by Microsoft® 818 HISTOKY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Monarch died in St. Mary's County, Maryland, in 1801. Thomas Monarch, the youngest of a famil}' of seven, was born one month after his father's death. His father died Feb. 25, 1801. Thomas was born Marclf 25 of the same year. Previous to his death Francis Monarch had arranged to remove to Kentucky, and on his death-bed requested his wife to carry out his plans, which she pro- ceeded to do, and when Thomas was but three weeks old the family left Maryland. At the mouth of Bear Creek, where stands now the city of Louisville, the Monarchs disembarked. Only a few houses marked the site where now sits the great commercial center of Louisville. The family found a home in Washington County, Ky. Here Mrs. Monarch died in 1835. In Washington, as it was then, Thomas was reared, but that portion of the county has since been included in Marion County. At the beginning of the century, the period back to which Mr. Monarch's boyhood dates, there were- few schools in that portion of the State. As a result of this condi- tion surrounding his youth, he had but about nine months school- ing. His older brothers having left home, Thomas remained with his mother until his marriage, Jan. 27, 1827. He married Susan Davis of the same county, who was born May 13, 1801. Her father was Philip Davis, from Pennsylvania. Her mother's name before marriage was Margaret Mattingly, the Mattingljs being early settlers of that part of Kentucky'. For seven years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Monarch resided in Washington County. Following the footprints of an older brother, Mr. Monarch, in the fall of 1833, visited Daviess County, purchasing 150 acres of land at $3 an acre. Early in the following year Mr. and Mrs. Monarch, in an ox-cart, with all their household goods, bade adien to friends of their youth, and set out for Daviess County, where, eight miles east of Owensboro, on the Hardinsburg road, they arrived Feb. 13, 1834. Here a cabin had previously been erected, and a couple of acres of ground cleared. This and nothing more had been done on the spot that was to be the future home of Thomas and Snsan Mon- arch. Since that time their lives have been a part of the history of Daviess County. Tiieir history has been marked by integrity of character, and in every way worthy of emulation. To Mr. and Mrs. Monarch were born ten children in the order given — William H., Henry (who died when a child), Amanda (died 1856), Daniel, (died May, 1875), Henry F. (died in 1857), Thomas J., Richard, Mi- randa, Martin V. and Sylvester. In his political life Mr. Monarch started as a Jackson Democrat, and subsequently became a Whig, Digitized by Microsoft® VPl'EK TOWN 7'REOINCT. 819 and an ardent 8np])orter of Henry Clay. For many years he con- sented to fill the office of Magistrate in Daviess County. In re- ligion he early embraced the Catholic faith, and lived a consistent member of that church until his death. Mr. Monarch died Nov. 13, 1881. Mrs. Monarch is still living, now in her eighty-thini year. W. H. Monarchy son of Thomas and Susan (Davis) Monarch, was born in Marion County, Ky., Nov. 10, 1827. When seven years old his father removed to Dj,viess County, settling on a farm on tlie Ilardinsburg road, eight miles from Owensboro. W. H. was educated in the district schools. In 1852 he married Catherine Jones, of Daviess County. The following year he commenced farming for himself. In 1871 he engaged in the saw-milling busi- ness, continuing eighteen months. He then formed a partnership with his brother, M. V.,in the distilling business. This partner- ship lasted five years, and then W. H.. in company with his brother Richard and E. P. Millett, built a distillery about three quarters of a mile east of Owensboro, the firm name being E. P. Millet & Co. They employ, when in operation, from thirteen to fifteen hands. Mr. Monarch lost his wife Feb. 22, 187u. To this union had been born three children, one now living — Wm. L. Aug. 15, 1871, Mr. Monarch married Virginia Hayden, of Daviess County. They have three children — Teresa P., Thomas R. and Mary U. Mr. and Mrs. Monarch are members of the Catholic church. Politically he is a Democra.t. He has been a Justice of the Peace. Athanaus Montgomery, son of Thomas F. and Clotilda Mont- gomery, was born in Daviess County, Ky., Aug. 5, 1831. His father was a native of Maryland, born in 1797, and died in 1851. His mother was bom in Nelson County,Ky., in 1 800,and died in 1866. There was a family of eleven children — Pius, Auguston, Rebecca, Jane, John T., Zachariah, Margaret, Atiianaus, Joseph, Apolonia and Raphael. Athanaus was reared and educated in this county, and in 1852 married Mary L. Clements, a native of Clay County, Mo. Six children were born to them, only three now living — Susan L., John H. and Thomascene. Mrs. Montgomery died Sept. 22, 1 882. Mr. Montgomery owns a farm of fifty-five acres and also the place where he resides, consisting of about five acres. He is a member of the Catholic church. H. H. Morris was born in Jasper County, Mo., Feb. 8, 1844. In 1847 he came with his father to Daviess County, and settled where he now lives. He was married Feb. 24, 1876, to Sallie A. Milli- Digitized by Microsoft® 820 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. gan, a native of Nelson County, Ky., born in March, 1847. They have no children. Mrs. Morris weighs 290 pounds. Mr. Morris's father, T. B. Morris, was born in Ohio County," Ky., April 8, 1810, and in March, 1818, came to Daviess County, and in 1824 moved back to Ohio County. In 1839 he went to Jasper County, Mo., where he lived till 1847, when he came back to Dav^iess County and settled where he still resides. April 17, 1832, he married Ma- hala R. Felix, a native of Ohio County, Ky., born in 1814. She died in Missouri in 1846, leaving eight children— GreorgeW., Will- iam, Sarah Jane, Charles T., Norman B., Elizabeth T., H. H., A. V. Nov. 22, 1847, Mr. Morris married Sarah Hale, a native of Mercer County, Ky., born in 1816. They have three children — Lucy G., Martha E. and Samuel B. Mr. Morris hus seventy-two acres of fine land six miles east of Owensboro. In the late war he enlisted in the Eighth Kentucky Confederate Cavalry. April 1, 1865, he was captured near Sel ma, Ala., b}^ Company B, Fourth Michigan Cavalry; was kept in stockade eight or ten days, and then marched to La Place, Macon County, Ala., and paroled. He had the measles and was sick at I. C. Church's thirty days. After he recovered he walked from Atlanta to Dalton, 110 miles, in three days, with nothing to eat but raw bacon and corn bread. Mr. Morris is a member of the Baptist church. He belongs to the Ma- sonic fraternity and I. O. O. F. James A. Morrison, farmer, was born in Oldham County, Ky., Dec. 30, 1841. His father, James R. Morrison, who was born in Danville, Ky., in 1802, and died in CarroUton, Ky., in 1872, while visiting his son, Dr. Qoodlow Morrison, was one of the best busi- ness men of his county; kind and generous, and always willing to lend a helping hand in the way of financial aid to worthy young men. His mother, Mildred (Duncan) Morrison, was born in Old- ham County, Ky., in 1806, and married at the age of twenty-thr^e years. She has had six children, three now living — Dr. A. M., of Goshen, Ky., born in 1838; James A., born in 1841, and Lucv E., born in J 844, now the wife of Charles Harrison, a druggist of Davenport, Iowa. James A. came to Daviess County in 1874, and bought eighty acres a mile southeast of Owensboro. ile makes a specialty of raising hay; also buying large quantities each year for the market. He also makes a specialty of Jersey cattle and Berkshire hogs, raising and selling large numbers. He was married in Louisville, Ky., May 5, 1868, to Mary Gowan, a native .'f LouisviHe, born in December, 1S42. They have four children — Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWN PBECINCr. 821 William, born Feb. 7, 1869; Sarah, Oct. 23, 1871; .Tames G., Jan. 8, 1877, and Goodlow M., in 1881. Mr. Morrison is a member of the Methodist and his wife of the Presbyterian cliureh. 6'. Q. Naws, florist and market gardener, was born in Germany, Jan. 1, 1843, and came to America in 1866, landing in New York the day before Lincoln was assassinated. He came direct to Louis- ville, K.y., and remained there three years. In 1868 he went to Clark County, Ind., and in 1872 came to Nelson County, Ky. In February, 1878, he came to Owensboro. He has two green-houses on GriflBth aveinie, a half mile south of the coi.rt-house. He was married in April, 1874, to Fannie Mattingly, a native of Nelson County, Ky., born in March, 185.5. They have live children — Benedict, Henry, Robert, William and Kate. Mr. and Mrs. Nawz are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Nawz is a member of Lodge No. 19, K. of P., Owensboro, Ky. Colonel William Newton (deceased),born in Culpeper County, Va., June 9, 1788, was a son of William and Elizabeth (Fields) Newton, also natives of Virginia, where they were married, and where their children were born. William, Jr., was the second son of a large family. He was reared in Yirginia,and came to what is now Daviess County, Ky., in 1809. In 1810 he went to "Virginia for his parents, and returning settled on the old Newton farm in Murray Precinct. In 1813 he enlisted in an independent company, under Colonel William Russell, against the Indians. March 18, 1815, he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Field, eldest daughter of Captain Ben. Field, who was born in Danville, Ky., May 2. 1793. He went to Hart- ford for his license, and was obliged to swim all the creeks on account of high water. After his marriage he settled on the old Shoemaker farm in Murray Precinct. In 1843 he removed to the farm in Upper Town Precinct, where his daughter, Mary J., now resides. Colonel Newton was Deputy Internal Revenue Collec- tor, under his father-in-law, Captain Ben. Field, in 1815, and Dep- uty County Sheriff in 1823-'24. While holding the latter office, March 18, 1824, he sold on the premises 1,950 acres of land, patented to John Mays, lying on the Ohio River, in ,thi8 county, to the highest bidder. It was purchased by Philip Trip- lett, at 25 cents per acre. In the afternoon of the same day he sold at the door of the court-house in Owensboro the same representa tive's interest in 3,000 acres, patented to John Mays and D. Ross, and also said representative's interest in the town of Owensboro. Philip Triplett was the purchaser of the whole at 25 cents per acre, Digitized by Microsoft® 822 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COtlNTY. and 25 cents per town lot, he being the highest bidder. In 183S Colonel Newton was elected to the State Legislature from Daviess County. In 1841 he was Sheriff of the county, and held the office two years. He was one of the early Directors of the old Southern, now National, Bank ofOwensboro. He was an energetic, public- spirited man, and always took an active part in any enterprise that promised progression to his county. In politics he was a Whig. Colonel and Mrs. Newtin had a family of eleven children. Two sons and tliree daughters grew to maturity, but oue now living- Miss Mary J. Miss Newton resides in a large two-story brick house built by her father in 1847. She has a line farm of 300 acres, the buildings all well made and comfortable. The whole premises show thrift and good management. A cousin. Miss Ma- tilda Field, resides with her. Miss New'ton is a member of the Macedonia Baptist church. Colonel Newton died April 18, 1872, and Mrs. Newton, March 28, 1873. William T. Pate, son of John F. and Matilda (Laycock) Pate, WHS born in Ohio County, Ind., Jaji. 30, 1835. His father was born in Dearborn County, Ind., and now lives in Ohio County. His mother was a native of Ripley County, lad. There was a family of five children — John M., Delila, Henry S., Charles P., and the subject of this sketch. June 6, 1870, William T. Pate was married to Charlotta Lostntter, a native of Ohio County, Ind., born Sept. 20, 1849. They have three children — Lucius, William and Ollie L. In 1876 Mr. Pate came to Daviess County, Ky., where he now owns a fine farm of eighty acres three and a half miles east of Owensboro. Mrs. Pate's father, John Lostutter, was born in Ohio County, Ind., May 26, 1817, and now resides in Daviess County. Her mother, Delila (Robertson) Lostutter, was a native of Switzerland County, Ind., and died in Daviess County in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Lostntter had a family ot ten children, seven now living — David, William, Eliza", Mary, Charlotta, Annie and Olive. George D. Payne was born in Daviess County, Ky., Sept. 9, 1868, and has always lived on his father's farm. He received his early education in this county, and attended the Cecilian College ten months. His parents, John A. and Mary (Valeria) Payne, were both natives of Daviess County, his father born in 1829 and his mother in 1840. There was a family of nine children, only seven now living — George D., Bettie, Robert O., Herman S., Will- iam J., Lucy G. and Emma. His mother died in 1879. The fam- Digitized by Microsoft® UPPER TOWN PKEOINCT. 823 ily are members of the Catholic church. His father owns seventy acres of fine land six miles east of Owensboro. P. E. Payne was born in Meade County, Ky., Feb. 22, 1848. His father, William M. Payne, was born in Nelson County, Ky., about 181Y, and died Feb. 12, 1861. His 'mother, Jane (O'Bryan) Payne, was .born about 1821, and died April 26, 1864. P. E. is the fourth of seven children. He came to Owensboro in March, 1867, and worked one season on the Rudd farm. In the fall he commenced to tend bar for Eobert O'Bryan; worked for him eighteen months, and in the spring of 1869 went to work for M. V. Monarch. In the fall of 1874 he took a working interest in the business, and in 1880 bought a share of the business and changed the name of the firm to the Sour-mash Distilling Com- pany, and holds the ofiice of Secretary. They have two distilleries with a capacity of seventy barrels per day, or 900 bushels of grain. Mr. Payne was married Oct. 27, 1873, to Mary E. O'Bryan, a na- tive of Meade County, Ky., born Sept. 29, 1850. They have three children — Louise, born March 14, 1876; Amelia, born July 18, 1878; Adele, born Sept. 21', 1880. Mr. Payne is a member of the Catholic church and Catholic Knights, No. 18, Owensboro Branch. Politically he is a Democrat. Thomas H. Payne was born in Meade County, Ky., May 10, 1846, and was a son of William M. and Jane F. (O'Bryan) Payne, natives of Marion County, Ky. His father was born in 1817, and died in 1862. His mother was born in 1818, and died in 1864. They were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are living —William M., Thomas H., P. E., Charles A., James M., Elizabeth and Mary. After "the death of his father the care of the mother and fire of the children fell on Thomas H. He commenced a course of study at Gethsemane College, when he was called home •by the death of his mother. He returned to the school, taking three brothers with him. They were to work a year and attend school a year. At the expiration of the two years Thomas H. went to St. Mary's and clerked in a store for his uncle, Robert O'Bryan, two years. Feb. 19, 1867, he married Lizzie C, daugh- ter of Ignatius Russell, who was born May 13, 1845. She is a sister of Father Russell, a Catholic priest, now at Nazareth, Ky. That same year Mr. Payne came to Daviess County and followed farming till 1875, when he moved to Owensboro, where he has been trading in live-stock. He has gaine^ the confidence of the people of Daviess and adjoining counties, and is now handling more stock Digitized by Microsoft® 824 HI8TOET OF DAVIESS COUNTT. than any other firm in the county in a retail way. He has five children — Julia, W. J., Clara, Henry D. and Minnie. He and family are members of the Catholic church. William Pottinger "vas born in Nelson County, Ky., May 25, 1833, and lived there till he was nineteen years of age, when he went with his father to Hancock County, and lived there four years. They then came to Daviess County, locating in Owensboro. His father, Robert L. Pottinger, was born in what is now Marion County, Ky., in 1805, and died Sept. 20, 1862. His mother, Ellen (Scott) Pottinger, a sister of Judge Scott, of Owensboro, was born in 1811. His parents had a family of seven children — William James L., Francis H., Robert B., Mary I., Thomas J. and Anna E. The latter died in February, 1880. William Pottinger was married Dec. 18, 1860, to Miss Fannie L. Green well, a native of Shelby County, Ky. She was educated at Fairfield, NelsDU County. Nine children have been born to them, six living — Mary M., Alice L., Anna E., Josephine, Robert A. and William F. Three died in infancy. The first three years in Owensboro he was in the mer- cantile business. He then taught school twelve years. He has been Acting Deputy County Assessor nine years, and is now City Assessor. He has a grocery on the corner of Maryland and Trip- lett streets. Mr. Pottinger is a member of the Catholic church and the Catholic Knights of America, Owensboro Branch, No. 18. Andrew Shobe, born in Hardy County, W. Ya., was a son of Adonijah and Amelia (Jones) Shobe, both natives of Hardy County, his father born in 1817, and his mother born in 1827. There was a family of seven children, six now living — Andrew, Henry, Gabriel, .Job, John and Edward. His mother died in 1856, and his father married Mary Ann Jones. They had two chil- dren— Adda and Alice. His father died in 1881, and his step- mother still lives in Montgomery County, Ind. Aug. 19, 1862, Mr. Shobe enlisted in Company C, Thirteenth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, U. S. A., and served three years. He was in all the battles in the valley of Virginia in 1864; was mustered out at Wheeling in June, 1865. He came to Kentucky in 1865, and the first year lived in Henderson County. In 1866 he came to Da- viess County. He was married Feb. 18, 1869, to Nettie Gillira, a native of Daviess County, born Nov. 18, 1862. They have three children— Kirby, born Dec. i6, 1869; Katie, March 21, 1872; Sid- ney, July 21, 1880. They *-e members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Shobe is a member of Pleasant Valley Lodge, No. 318, A. F. & A. M. Digitized by Microsoft® UPPEE TOWN PRECINCT. 825 John Taylor was born in Daviess County, Ky., Jan. 26, 1832. His father was born in Shelby County, Ky., March 20, 1806. His mother, Mary (Shoemaker) Taylor, was born in Virginia in August, 1809, and died in Daviess County in 18Y2. John is the sec- ond of ten children. His Grandfather, Price Allen Shoemaker, came from Virginia to Kentucky in 1834, and died in 1842. His Grandfather Taylor was brought to Kentucky from Virginia on horseback in a basket when three months old. Mr. Taylor was married Nov. 15, 1864, to Louisa, daughter of Owen Hickman, formerly of Oldham County, Ky., where she ^as born in 1847. They have five children — James W., born in 1868; Cordelia, June 1, 1870; Edgar, Dec. 18, 1873; Mary L., June 5, 1877; Earl, Dec. 8, 1881. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Baptist church. He be- longs to John J. Daveiss Lodge, No. 389, A. F. & A. M. He has a fine farm of 145 acres four and a half miles southeast of Owens- boro. Manley B. Tichenor was born in Ohio County, Ky., Nov. 14, 1820. July 6, 1845, he married Alpha "Whittiker, a native of Ohio County, born April 10, 1828. They have had thirteen chil- dren—Delia A., born Aug. 20, 1846; Marinda W., Dec. 25, 1847; Mattie L., July 6, 1849; Lydia J., Oct. 29, 1850; Sallie M., April 6, 1852; Squire C, June 8, 1853; America V., Nov. 6, 1856; William J., Aug. 9, 1859; Benjamin, Jan. 13, 1861; Jacob B., Aug. 22, 1862; Julia V., Nov. 23, 1865; Charles M., Feb. 18, 1868; Archa D., July 18, 1870. Mr. Tichenor and all his family but two are members of the Baptist church. He owns a fine farm of 260 acres six miles northeast of Owensboro. His father, Jared Tichenor, was born in Morristown, N. J., in February, 1779, and died in Kentucky in 1868. He served as Justice of the Peace a number of years, and was Sheriff of Ohio County four years. He married Martha Bennett, a native of Nelson County, Ky., born in 1781. She died in 1857. They had a family of nine children — Thomas, Anna, Warren C, Olney, Sallie, Sanford, Manley B., Squire J. and John M. J. B. Turn&r, son of C. H. and Amanda (Hill) Turner, was born in Nelson County, Ky., Nov. 21, 1863. His father was born Jan. 26, 1826, and died Feb. 22, 1876. His mother was born in 1833 and is still living in Daviess County. There was a family of thirteen children, nine of whom are living — John E., Jonah, Eliza- beth, Catherine, C. H., Evaetter and Efetter (twins), Charles and Lena. John E. was educated in Nelson and Hardin counties, Ky. Digitized by Microsoft® 826 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. He attended St. Joseph College live months, Gethsemane live months and,Cecilian College fifteen months. Alter leaving school he bought stock two months, and in Febrnarj, 1880, went to Ne- braska, and remained six months. He then returned to Kentucky, coming to Owensboro. He worked three months for Hill & Hill, and then worked for M. V. Monarch until July, 1881, when he obtained his present position as bookkeeper for Hill & Hill. He was married Feb. 21, 1882, to Mary Stevens, a native of Daviess County, born Sept. 12, 1863. Mr. Turner is a member of the Catholic church. Charles Vbwds was born in Nelson County, Ky., June 4, 1807, and came to Daviess County in 1838, settling on a farm near where he now lives and where he owns 106:^ acres of good land, on the bead waters of Yellow Creek. Oct. 24, 1826, he married Elinor Hayden, a native of Nelson County, born July 4, 1803. She died May 7, 1880. Their children are— John, born Feb. 9, 1831; Eliza, Aug. 24, 1832; Henry, Feb. 19, 1834; Thomas, Feb. 29, 1836; Washington George, March 26, 1842; Julia A., Jan. 1, 1844; Ellen A., June 10, 1848. Mr. Vowels has sixty grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. He is seventy-six years of age and has never been sick in his life. S^lias M. Fixre was born in Shelby County, Ky., Jan. 17, 1838. When nine months old he was taken to Clay, Ky., and lived there till he was twelve years old. He then lived two years in Lawrence County, Ind., and from there returned to Shelby County, where he lived till 1878, when he came to Daviess County and located on his present farm, seven miles east of Owensboro, where he has fifty acres of good land, and is engaged in farming and blacksmithing. He was married in 1859 to Sarah E. Tucker, a native of Shelby County, Ky., born Feb. 22, 1838. They have had two children, only one now living — Eichard T., born Feb. 12, 1865. Mr. Ware is a member of Solomon's Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M., and the L O. O. F. in Shelby County. He was City Councilman of Shelby- ville from 1868-'78, and Deputy Assessor from 1868-'70. C. E. Wilherson was born in Daviess County, Ky., Nov. 1, 1826. His father, Thornton Wilkerson, was born in Culpeper County, Va., in 1790; came to Kentucky in 1820, settling first in Shelby County; died in Daviess County in 1857. His mother, Letty (Elliott) Wilkerson, was born in Maryland in 1796 and died in Daviess County, Ky., in 1872. There were four children — Robert, Charles E., Thornton and Catherine. C. E. has always been a Digitized by Microsoft® UPPEE TOWN PRECINCT. 82T farmer and has lived in Daviess County all his life, with the excep- tion of eighteen months. He was married. Aug. 23, 1853, to Arte- misia Higdon, a native of Nelson County, Ky., born April 7, 1825. They have four children — Catherine, John T., Rosa, "William H. Mr. "Wilkerson owns 101 acres of fine land five miles southeast of Owensboro, on the Hartford road. Mrs. Wilkerson is a member of the Catholic church. John J. Williams, carpenter and builder, was born Oct. 14, 1828, in Hancock County, Ky., where he resided till forty-five years of age. In 1847 he enlisted in Company F, Fourth Kentucky In- fantry, Captain McCrary, and served till the close of the Mexican war. He worked on the river until the breaking out of the Re- bellion, flatboating and steamboating. Since the close of the war he has worked at the carpenter's trade and building. He came to Daviess County in 1874. He was married Nov. 24, 1852, to Eliza J. Burnett, a native of Hancock County, Ky., born Oct. 7, 1832. They have six children — John H., born Jan. 2, 1859 ; James H., born Nov. 10, 1860 ; Robert E., born Feb. 22, 1866 ; Yiola, born Feb. 6, 1868 ; L. T., born Nov. 21, 1871, and Letitia C, born Oct. 19, 1873. R. I. Wootten, born in Spencer County, Ky., Feb. 17, 1839, was a son of William H. and Rosalia (Coomes) Wootten, both natives of Nelson County, Ky. His father was born March 25, 1811, and was killed by a guerrilla near Slate Riffle, Ohio Co., Ky. His mother was born in 1815, and died in November, 1860. R. I. was the second of ten children. When quite young his parents moved to Nelson County, where he remained till 1859, when he came to Daviess County. He enlisted in Company B, Third Kentucky Cavalry, U. S. A., and served three years and ten months. After the war he worked at the printer's trade till 1880, when he was appointed Gov- ernment Storekeeper. He was married March 28, 1864, to Jennie E. Higdon, a native of Owensboro, born in 1841. They have four children— Clara R., born Sept. 25, 1870; JohnT., born Oct. 1, 1873; Alfred C, born Aug. 1, 1876; Charles R., born Dec. 27, 1882. Mr. Wootten is a member of the Catholic church and of the Catholic Knights of America. He also belongs to No. 3, Department of Kentucky, G. A. R. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XXVII. vaNover precinct. This precinct lies directly south of Lower Town, andis separated from it by North Panther Creek. The boundary line begins at Widow Tanner's, on the Daviess and McLean counties line, run- ning thence to Adam Young's, including him, thence to Lydan's bridge on Panther Creek, thence up said creek to the mouth oi Rhodes's Creek, thence with said creek to the county lines afore- said, thence west with said lines to the beginning. Part of the precinct is hilly and broken, but the hills are covered with good soil and well adaptpd to farming. In the western and southeast- ern portion is a vast amount of coal. It was named after the numerous families of Vanover, who settled there about twenty years ago, coming to the county from East Tennessee. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settlers of Vanover Precinct were the Crabtrees. There were four brothers — Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses was the oldest of the family, and was a young married man, the others being in their teens. They all came at the same time, and were from Virginia, but the exact date of their settlement is not certainly known. The Potts family came in an early day; also, Thomas Minton, Andrew Kelly, one Mr. Jones and Abner Lea, all of whom, including the Crabtrees, settled in the western part of the precinct. Moses Crabtree became the father of sixteen chil- dren. This part of the county was for along time thinly settled, and it is only within the last twenty years that it has begun to be improved to any great extent. vanoveb's mill. This is a small grist-mill, run by water-power, situated on Pan- ther Creek, ten miles southwest of Owensboro. It was built by Jonathan Barnett about 1847. He ground corn in it for several years, and then sold to Ebenezer Cawhorn, who rebuilt the entire mill. It was afterward owned by Samuel Vanover, who added a saw-mil], and ran it for several years in connection with the corn- (A28) Digitized by Microsoft® TANOTEE PEEOINCT. 829 mill. It is now owned by Henry Vanover, and is used only for grinding corn. THE DISTRICT SCHOOL-HOUSE. In the western part of this precinct stands the old log house, where the old men now living in this locality received their early education; and it was then considered quite an old house. It is supposed to be the oldest school-house in all the surrounding coun- try. It is still used for school purposes, and is extensively known as "the district school-house." But "The building is going to decay, And the rafters are falling in." Vanover is strictly a temperance precinct; not a drop of whisky has been sold here for more than four years, and during this time the grand jury of Daviess County has found no indictment what- ever against any of her citizens. There are no villages in this precinct. About 1868 F. M. Aus- tin sold whisky and groceries in the southwest corner, and Joseph P. Waltrip was requested to give a name to the locality. As the whisky that was sold was of a very bad quality, Mr. W. gave it the name of Blue Ruin. Some time later, J. M. Buker commenced building a house at this point in which to put dry goods, but for the want of capital he failed to complete it, whereupon Mr. Wal- trip changed the name to Needmore. There are four families, one small grocery, kept by J. W. Cravens, and one grist-mill. The burg is situated two and a half miles east of Possum Trot, in Curdsville, and four miles south of West Louisville. Mr. Waltrip died in McLean County in 1880. PANTHER CREEK POSTOFFICE is situated on the Ashbysburg road, thirteen miles southwest of Owensboro, and was established in 1880, with John P. Burns as Postmaster. It was named after Pantiier Creek, which is the nearest stream. There is no regular mail route to this office. Owensboro is the distributing office, and the mail is carried by any of the neighbors that happen to "go to town." Mr. Burns estab- lished a general store at this point in 1880, and is doing a good business. CHURCHES. Brushy Fork Baptist Church is situated one half mile south of the district school-house. The society was organized Dec. 5, Digitized by Microsoft® 830 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COLTNTY. 1846, by Revs. Downs, Allen and Howard, ministers ot the Missionary Baptist church, two or three miles southeast of the present house, in a log house that had been built by the Presby- terians. They occupied this church building several years. The original members were James F. Bennett, Wilson Waltrip, Benja- min Short, John Iglehart, Jonas Little, John H. Vanover and Elizabeth Short. Rev. Isum Allen was Moderator, and Wilson Waltrip and Benjamin Short were elected and ordained Deacons. James T. Bennett was the first Clerk. Rev. Isum Allen was the Pastor until 1849, when W. J. Owen was called. The Pastors who have served this church since are Revs. Benjamin Lafferty, William R. Welch, K. G. Hay, J. S. Taylor, D. E. Yeiser, Will- iam Stevens and B. F. Swindler. Rev. William Stevens is the present Pastor. During the winter of 1855-'66 Rev. W. R. Welch held a series of revival meetings in the district school-house, and soon after moved to that locality, and built a log house within a few yards of where the present commodious structure stands. Rev. Allen, the first Pastor, resided a few years in Owensboro, where he died about 1866. Rev. Rafferty died in this county in 1877 or '73 near Hayden's bridge, on Panther Creek. There are now about 140 communicants; services once a month. The Deacons are : W. T. Hemingway, Matthew Murphy, W. H. Thomasson, J. H. Bandy and G. M. Hemingway; C. M. Cary, Clerk. The present church was built in 1875, and is a two-story frame building, 50 x 36 feet. Little Tlock United Baptist Church, more commonly known as Bristowites, is not recognized as a denomination by the regular Baptist association. About forty years ago, when the Panther Creek Baptist church adopted the work of missions as an especial part of its work, one Jasper Bristow made several motions in the church, which were voted down by the members. Finding all his wishes entirely disregarded, he took his hat, arose and said, " All who believe as I do, follow me." Several followed him, and they left the house. They then assembled in another place, drew up their letters, sent delegates to the Green River Association, claiming to be the church. These remaining in the church trans- acted the usual amount of business, drew up their letter for the Association, sending delegates as usual. The Association decided that those who remained in the house constituted the Panther Creek church. Bristow and his followers continued their work, calling themselves the Green River Association of the United Digitized by Microsoft® VANOVER PKECINCT. 831 Baptist Church. The Bristowites bitterly opposed the missionary work adopted by the Panther Creek church. They also believed in the practice of feet-washing, and did not believe in a paid min- istry. Those were the main points of difference between them and the mother church. Several other congregations have been organized, and they call themselves the original Green River Association. The Little Flock congregation was organized about the year 1847, with six or eight members, by Revs. Jatnes Samples, Jasper Bristow and William Hendricks. They first worshiped in private houses, but soon built a small log cabin near where the present one now stands. It burned down several years ago, and they then built the present house, which is a small hewed-log building. There are now sixty-three members; services the first Sunday in each month, and the Saturday previous, by the Pastor, Eiev. James B. Baughn. Mount Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organ- ized Aug. 17, 1844, in the Sand Spring school-house on the John Moseley laud, by Revs. L. C. Philips and Joseph Weaver, with twenty-three members; seven of these members had been members of the old Camp-Ground Cumberland Presbyterian Church, long since discontinued, namely: William Hansford, John Moseley, James Little, William Little, Mary Chapman, Frances Lashbrook and Frances Crabtree. The last-named is the only one living of the original seven. This church was first called the Sand Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church, taking its name from the school- house, in which .it was organized, which took its name from a large sand spring near by. They worshiped in this house a few years, when, with the aid of the citizens, they built a hewed-log house, 24 X 30 feet, on Union Hill, where the new Methodist church now stands, and was used by them until 1868, when they built the present structure, one half mile north of the old one, on the land of C. M. Ruby. At the time of the dedication of this church the name was changed to Mount Pleasant. They had no regular Pastor until October, 1845, when Rev. Joseph Weaver was called and had charge of the church until 1854. The Pastors that have since served are as follows: Revs. W. O.Smith, from 1859 to 1861; Charles Gates, 1863 to 1865; J. C. Crabtree, 1865 to 1867; Charles Gates, 1867 to 1870- J. C. Armstrong, a short time during 1871; Charles Gates, 1871 ^o 1873; C. C. Boswell, 1873 to 1878; W. S. Casky, 1878 to 1879; Willis Smith, 1879 to the present time. The Digitized by Microsoft® 832 HISTORY OF DAVIESS OOtTNTT. present Elders are Isaac T. Moaeley, M. C. Moseley, J. M. Ruby, J. H. Wilhite, J. "V. Wilhite, Luther Moseley aud W. G. Hansford; Present Deacon and Clerk, C. M. Ruby. Number of communi- cants, 103. Services the third Sabbath of each month by Rev. Willis Smith. Sabbath-school is held from the first Sunday in April until the third Sunday in October, inclusive; prayer-meeting once a week during the winter. Rev. Joseph Weaver, the first Pastor, lived in this county until his death, which occurred several years ago. Three churches, Christian, Baptist and Methodist, are located on one hill, known as Union Hill. At one time all of these denominations worshiped in a small log house, where the Methodist church now stands — hence the name. It was the prop- erty of the C. P. congregation, and was built by members of all denominations in a very early day. Olenville Baptist Church was organized July 29, 1865, by Elders Dawson, Givens, Blansford and Robertson, at the old log house, sometimes called Mount Pleasant. The names of the charter members are as follows: Bats Oost, Joseph Givens, John L. Igleheart, Louisa Phillips, Anna Givens, Sophronia Cox, Emily Baird, Eliza Clark, Amanda F. Igleheart and Palestine O'Burns. The first Clerk was J. L. Igleheart. The first Deacons were Joseph Givens and Bats Oost. The church continued to worship in the old log house until their new house was completed, in 1867. Cost of new bnilding, $1,200 or $1,400. The first Pastor was Elder L. C. Tichnor, who served until August, 1870. He was succeeded by D. E. Yeiser, and in June, 1871, Elder Tichnor was again called, and served until 1876. D. E. Yeiser was then re-called, and served fifteen months, and was succeeded by Elder William Stevens, who served until July, 1880. After his resignation Elder Tichnor again became Pastor, and has served to the present time. Services are held twice a month. Present membership, sixty. ELECTIONS. For politics of parties see Lower Town. 1852, Aug. 2: Sheriff— Landrum, 213; Veech, 9. For railroad tax, 27; against, 184. 1860, Aug. 6: Appellate Clerk— C. McClarty, 16; L. Combs, 20; R. R. Bowling, 55. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 73; John Locke, 30. County Attorney— J. H. McHenry, 13; J. R. Claybrook, 53. Colo- nel— R. L. Boyd, 45. Lieutenant-Colonel — 7. P. Thompson, 46. Digitized by Microsoft® VANOVEK PEECINCT. 833 Justice — Childress, 98; Eobertson, 94. Constable — Oglesby, 60; Bundy, 35; Brook, 10. For school tax, 20; against, 90. 1861, June 20: Congressman — J. Y. Bunch, 16; J. S. Jackson, 103. 1861, Aug. 5: State Treasurer— G. Terry, 21; J. H. Garrard, 120. Senator— J. B. Yance, 30; Wm. Antony, 122. Represent- ative to Legislature — 0. T. Noel, 27; G. H. Teaman, 122. 1862, Aug. 4: Appellate Judge — E. A. "Williams, 80. Circuit Judge— James Stuart, 5; H. B. Wall, 18. Commonwealth's At- torney— John Chapeze, 15; J. J. Harrison, 6c. Presiding Judge — T. L. Beers, 8; A. G. Botts, 66. Circuit Clerk— Jos. Thomas, 78. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 84. Sheriff— J. G. Harrison, 33. County Attorney — H. S. McFarland, 71. Assessor — Y. L. Moseley, 78. Coroner — J. W. Rosa, 76. 1862, Oct. 27: Congressman— G. H. Teaman, 42; E. K. Weir, 2. 1862, Dec. 8: Representative to Legislature — J. S. McFarland, 43. 1863, May 2: Justices — A. Ruby, 87; J. A. Robertson, 61; Beverly Childress, 43; Adam Toung, 32. Constable — John Igle- hart, 48; Geo. Oglesby, 46. 1863, Aug. 3: Governor— Thos. E. Bramlette, 57; E. A. Wick- liff, 36. Congressman — G. H. Teaman, 59; J. H. McHenry, 38. Bepresentative to Legislature — J. S. McFarland, 71. 1864,, Aug. 1: Sheriff— J. G. Harrison, 45; A. J. McAtee, 21. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 45. 1864, Nov. 8: President— Geo. B. McClellan, 80; A. Lincoln, none. 1865, May 6: Constable — John Goodwin, 29. 1865, Aug. 7: Congressman — Geo. H. Teaman, 3; B. C. Ritter, 91. State Treasurer— W.S. JSTeale, 1; J. H. Garrard, 59. Sena- tor— A. D. Cosby, 51. Bepresentative to Legislature — J. Yeech, 79; T. Maddux, 1. 1866, Aug. 6: Appellate Clerk— E. H. Hobson, 22; A. Duval, 103. County Judge— E. C. Berry, 23; J. S. McFarland, 65; G. W. Triplett, 61. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 51; J. M. Hughes; 33; B. Duncan, 11; T. C. Jones, 44. Sheriff— W. H. Perkins, 96; E. A. Hathaway, 27. County Attorney — A. E. Taylor, 65; Thomas Crutcher, 27. Coroner — H. O'Brien, 38. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 36; J. J. Talbott, 2; J. T. Moseley, 57; Sam. Jewell, 15. Surveyor — A. W. Scott, 113. For railroad tax, 4; against, 127. 53 Digitized by Microsoft® 834 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 1867, April 15: For county stock of $250,000 in the Owensboro & Russellville Bailroad, 33; against, 79. 1867, May 4: Congressman — John Y. Brown, 106; B. C. Ritter, 14. Justices — B. Childress, 40; J. Eobertson, 87; Adam Young, 71; John Fitts, 26; Edwin Goodwin, 77. Constable— T. L. Good- win, 80; Charles Cary, 38; Peter Clark, 33. 1867, Aug. 5: Governor— J. L. Helm, 64; W. B. Kinkead, 42. Circuit Judge — G. W. Williams, 17; J. L. Johnson, 76. Common Pleas Judge— C. G. Wintersmith, 77; L. P. Little, 10. Repre- sentative to Legislature — J. Veech, 10; J. W. Moseley, 42; K. C. McPherson, 47. 1868, Aug. 3: Governor — J. W. Stevenson, 147. Circuit Judge G. W. "Williams, 147. Circuit Clerk— J. P. Thompson, 64; M. S. Ogden, 100. Commonwealth's Attorney — Baker Boyd, 63; R. Y. Bush, 19; G. W. Swoope, 74. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 163. Sur- veyor— J W. Sutherland, 134; Wilfred Carieo, 20. Constable — Wm. Murphy, 90; Geo. Ogles by, 69. 1868, Nov. 3: Presidenf^H. Seymour, 150; U. S. Grant, 5. Congressman — W. N. Sweeney, 148; Samuel Langley, 1. 1869, May 1: Constable— Wm. Murphy, 77; W. W. Moseley, 47. 1869, Aug. 2: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 52; E. R. Wing, 3. Senator — Ed. Hawes, 53. Representative to Legislature — C. Griffith, 51; J. W . Gabbert, 27. County Attorney— V. T. Craw- ford, 43. For school tax, 5; against, 80. 1870, Aug. 1: Wm. Lindsay, 60; R.K. Williams, 10. Circuit Judge— M. F. Cofer, 67. County Judge— G. W. Triplett, 61; A. G. Botts, 3. County Clerk— T. Jones, 66; J. K. P.. Moore, 3. Connty Attorney— W. T. Ellis, 65. Sheriff— W. H. Scott, 67; T. Maddux, 2. Surveyor — J. W. Sutherland, 70; A. M. Mayo, 4. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 61; R. J. Wootten, 3. Coroner — A. J. McAtee, 72; W. J. Littell, 2. 1870, Nov. 8: Congressman — H. D. McHenry, 33; M. J. Rork, 3. 1871, May 6: Justices — J. A. Robertson, 105; B. Childress 14- E. Goodwin, 143; A. Young, 130. Constable— Joseph Martin, 107; W. H. Murphy, 100. 1871, Aug. 7: Governor— P. H. Leslie, 126; J. M. Harlan, 15. Representative to Legislature — C. Griffith, 76; S.H.Jesse 72- T. H. Roberts, 1. ' ' 1872, Aug. 5: Connty Clerk — Jo. Thomas, 3; J. G. McFar- land, 150. Sheriff— W. H. Perkins, 122; David Webb, 3. Digitized by Microsoft® VANOVEE PRECINCT. 835 1872, Nov. 5: H. Greeley, 70; U. S. Grant, 28; C. O'Connor; 12. Congressman — J. Y. Brown, 71. 1873, May 3: Justices— C. H. Oglesby, 23, C. M. Carey, 48; G. L. Jones, 41; B. C. Moseley, 22; C. M. Euby, 21. Constable —J. K. Jarrett, 173. 1873, Aug. 4: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 54. Senator— E. Hawes, 44; G. "W. Swoope, 69; G. "W. Jolly, 1. Representative to Legislature— Ben. Stout, 93; E. W. McFarland, 5; H. Megill, 3. 1874, Aug. 3: Appellate Clerk— T. C. Jones, 94; J. B. Coch- rane, 26. Circuit Judge — L. P. Little, 83; J. Montgomery, 12; James Stuart, 51. Commonwealth Attorney — E. H. Brown, 66; Jo. Haycraft, 48. Circuit Clerk — F. F. Conway, 123. County Judge— G. W. Triplett, 55; G. W. Jolly, 119. County Attorney —W. T. Ellis, 130. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 141. Sheriff — H. W. Scott, 139. Coroner— G. W. Mathis, 74. Surveyor— Eobert Frey, 130. Assessor— W. T. Aull, 136. 1874, Nov. 3: Congressman — J. Y. Brown, 33; George Smith, 30. 1875, May 5: Justices— C. M. Carey, 121; Edwin Goodwin, 113; Thoma,8 Clark, 51; J. A. Eobertson, 82. W. C. Yanover, 47. Constable — Wm. Goodwin, 111; D. C. Eobertson, 92. 1875, Aug. 2: Governor — J. B. McCreary, 70; J. M. Harlan, 3. Eepreeentative to Legislature — W. J. Taylor, 66; J. G. Ford, 41; A. J. Philpot, 36. Surveyor— C. W. Gordon, 75. For license, 17; against, 34. For Constitutional Convention, 6; against, 69. 1876, Aug. 7. Circuit Judge— G. W. Eay, 11; J. A. Murray, 52. Sheriif— J. H. Gates, 44; E. E. Coomes, 123. For road law, 4; against, 182. Constable — Wm. Goodwin, 75; W. U. Aud, 88. 1876, Nov. 2: President— S. J. Tilden, 98; E. B. Hayes, 13; G. C. Smith, 72. Congressman — J. A. McKenzie, 114; J. Z. Moore, 16. 1877, Aug. 6: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 95; I. H. Trabue, 76. Senator— C. Griffith, 100; Y. P. Stateler, 91. Eepresenta- tive to Legislature — C. E. Thorp, 98; A. Craycroft, 97; J. A. Shack- elford, 83. 1878, Aug. 5: Appellate Judge— T. H. Hinds 142. County Judge— H. "W. Scott, 115; G. W. Jolly, 124. County Attorney— J. L. McFarland, 193. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 182. Sheriff— E. C. Davis, 159; E. S. Worthington, 48. Assessor— G. Allgood, 163; C. W. Thomas, 32. Surveyor— C. W. Gordon, 154; J. "W". Funk, 134. Justices— E. Goodwin, 99; C. H. Patter- son, 90; F. M. Howard, 29; J. E. Iglehart, 21. Digitized by Microsoft® 836 HISTOET OF^DAVIESS COUNTY. 1878, Nov. 5: Congressman — J. A. McKenzie, 39; F. M. Eng- lish, 20. 1879, Aug. 4: Governor— L. P. Blackburn, 109; C. W. Cook, 61; W. Evans, 3. Representative to Legislature — R. "W. McFar- land, 111; James Rudy, 110; E. S. Worthington, 51; E. O'Flynn, 51. For Constitutional Convention, 10; against, none reported. For license, 85; against, 83. Justices — Jas. Martin, 74; Ed. Goodwin, 106. 1880, Aug. 2: Circuit Judge— J. Stuart, 91; L. P. Little, 116; Commonwealth Attorney — Joe. Noe, 127; Jo. Haycraft, 101. Circuit Clerk, F. F. Conway, 144. Sheriff— E. C. Davis, 156. Surveyor— Ed. Edwards, 188. Constable— Peter Clark, 116; C. F. Bethel, 43: "Wm. Robertson, 40. 1880, Nov. 2: President— W. S. Hancock, 113; J. A. Garfield, 16 ; J. B. Weaver, 62. Representative to Legislature — J. A. Mc- Kenzie, 97; C. W. Cook, 95; J. Fielding, 4. 1881, Aug. 1: State Treasurer- J. W. Tate, 110. Senator— J. A. Munday, 125. Representative to Legislature — J. A. Rudy, 123: Geo. Y. Triplett, 122. Constable— C. A. Edwards, 106; T. W. French, 98. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 128. Coroner- P. W. Clark, 159. 1882, Aug. 7: Judge of Superior Court — J. H. Bowden, 136. Appellate Clerk— Thomas J. Henry, 125; R. T. Jacob, 28. County Judge — H. "W". Scott, 152. County Attorney — Martin Yewell, 155. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 165. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 122; J. J. Christian, 89. Surveyor— E. Edwards, 180. Coroner — Geo. M. Hayden, 152. Assessor — G. A. Allgood, 175. For license, 70; against, 169. For school tax, 10; against, 242. Justices — Ed. Goodwin, 123; J. H. Baird, 129; D. C. Robertson, 165; G. L.Jones, 84; W. W. Elliott, 41. Constable— J. H. Bandy, 123; W. R. Clark, 135. 1882, Nov. 7: Congressman— J. F. Clay, 35 ; W. Fuqua, 8. Magistrates' Courts: For one justice, the third Thursday in March, June, September and December; for the other, the third Tuesday in these months. BIOGRAPHICAL. James Baird (deceased), late of Vanover Precinct, was born in Daviess County, Nov. 16, 1835, and was a son of William Baird (deceased) an early settler of this county. He was brought up on a farm, and received a common-school education. He was married Digitized by Microsoft® YANOVEE PEECINCT. 837 Feb. 16, 1862, to Lucinda Murphy, daughter of Matthew Murphy, of Vanover Precinct. This union was blessed with ten children, of whoni seven are living — William A., James M., Ruth A., Claudie, Stevens, Stanley and James. Mr. Baird died Aug. 2, 1879. He was a Deacon in the Brushy Fork Baptist Church, of which he had been a member about twelve years. He was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and owned 225 acres of valuable land about three miles south of West Louisville. He was a true Christian man and kind husband and father, and highly esteemed by all. Samuel C. Baughn, blacksmith, Vanover Precinct, was born in this county. May 10, 1832. He was brought up on the farm, and learned the blacksmith's trade without an instructor. He estab- lished a shop at or near Little Flock Baptist Church in 1858, where he is still doing general blacksmithing, having a good trade. He also manufactures plows. He was married April 3, 1853, to Mrs. Delitha Wilson. They have had nine children, five living — Lucre- tiaM., Delitha M., LethaM., Samuel C. and Cordelia H. Two children, Nathaniel B. and Mary M., died after they were grown. Nathaniel Baughn, father of the above, was born near Richmond, Va., Aug. 1, 1804, and is a son of Joseph Baughn, who came to Shelby County in 1816. Mr. Baughn came to this county in 1826. He has been a farmer most all his life, and is now a cripple. He married Jane Hendricks in 1829, and is the father of eleven chil- dren, eight of whom are living — Samuel C, John P., James R., Joseph T., Nathaniel R., Henry C, Mahala J. and Charles T. Mr. and Mrs. Baughn are members of a sect of the United Bap- tist church, frequently called Brlstowites. James S. Bivens was born in Daviess County, Ky., May 9, 1833, and has always made this county his home. Daring the war of the Rebellion he served three years in the Confederate army, in the Third Kentucky Cavalry, under Colonel James Jackson. He owns a farm of 140 acres eleven miles soutlieast ot'Owensboro. In 1857 Mr. Bivens married Bettie Crabtree, a native of Daviess County, born in 1833. They have four children — Margaret C, Francis- Tony and Charles. liev. Addison Jasper Brooks, Yanover Precinct, was born in Fayette County, Tenn., Jan. 3, 1833, and is a son of Henry Brooks (deceased), a native of North Carolina. Mr. Brooks was reared a farmer's boy, and still owns and carries on a farm. He received a common-school education, but is for the most part a self-educated man. He was ordained minister in the Baptist church, Oct. 17, Digitized by Microsoft® 838 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. 1874, and has since regularly preached the gospel. He was mar- ried Oct. 26, 1854, to Frances E. Kennedy, daughter of John Ken- nedy (deceased). They had two children, one living — James A., born July 16, 1855, and married Dec. 14, 1882. Mr. Brooks is the present Pastor of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, on Green Kiver, in McLean County. He served in the late war in Company C, Seventeenth Kentucky Kegiment Yolunteer Infantry, U. S. A., and participated in the battles of Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, and Chickamauga, Missionary Kidge, Chattanooga and others, and while in the service he became disabled with erysipelas in the face the effect of which is still seen by a constant twitching of the right cheek. P. H. Burdett was born in Bullitt County, Ky., -Jan. 16, 1842, and came to Daviess County when sixteen years of age. He rented land and farmed until 1867, when he bought sixty-eight acres in Vanover Precinct. Nov. 13, 1876, he married Lavinia Nave, a native of Washington County, Ky., born May 31, 1851. They have three children — Wordam, Elvora and lora. Mr. Burdett has his life insured in the Louisville Life Insurance Company for $2,000. He is one of Daviess County's most enterprising farmers. John P. Burns, merchant and Postmaster, at Panther, Yauover Precinct, was born in this precinct, Dec. 26, 1860, and is a son ol Daniel Burns, of this precinct. Mr. Burns lived on a farm till fourteen years of age, when he began attending the high school at South Carrollton, this State. He graduated from theEvansville Com- mercial College in Jnly, 1879, and the same year engaged in the mercantile business at George Little's old stand in McLean County. He removed to his present location in April, 1880, where he built & new store and a neat little dwelling near by. He keeps a full line of dry goods, groceries, notions, hats, caps, boots and shoes, hard- ware, tinware, woodenware, queen's- ware, harness, ready-made cloth- ing, and in fact everything usually kept in a first-class general store. Mr. Burns owns all the property he occupies and has already built up a large trade. He was married in September, 1879, to Miss Olive I. Ashby. Charles M. Gary, Vanover Precinct, near Brushy Fork Baptist Church, is a native of Daviess (now McLean) County, and was born July 16, 1840. His father, John E. Cary, came to this county when a young man, and still resides in Vanover Precinct. Charles M. was brought up a farmer boy and had no educational advantages save those furnished by the common schools of the county. He Digitized by Microsoft® VANOVER PEEOINOT. 839 was married Nov. 21, 1867, to Elizabeth Murphy, daughter of Matthew Murphy, of this precinct. They have had seven children, six living — Eunice J., Kemus G., Lueatta, Walter E., Matthew and Mary. Mr. Gary owns 112 acres of land and is engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising. He was Justice of the Peace here for six, years. He was a soldier in the late war three years for Uncle Sam, ill Company C, Seventeenth KentuckyRegular Volunteer Infantry and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Chatta- nooga, Corinth, siege of Atlanta, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and o'ohers. Mr. Cary is Clerk of the Brushy Fork Baptist Church of which^he has been a member for several years. jPeter W. Clark, Yanover Precinct, was born in Madison County, Ky., March 13, 1828, and is a son of "William Clark (de- ceased). He was brought up on a farm and came with his parents to Mercer County, Ky., in 1844. He came to this county in the fall of 1860 where he has since resided, except six years spent in Union Count}', this State. He was married in August, 1851, to Elizabeth Bonta, daughter of Henry Bonta. They have had ten children, of whom seven are living — Henry, Thompson, John L., Nannie E., Charles, Dora and Hallie. He owns 124 acres of land. Mr. Clark held the office of Coroner for two years, and was three years a soldier in the Confederate army under General Mc^rgan. Wm. P. Clarke a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Vanover Precinct, was born in Madison County, Ky., in October, 1833, and is a son of William Clark (deceased). He was brought up on a farm and received a limited education in the subscription schools. He came with hi^ parents to Mercer County, Ky., in 1844. In 1866 he came to Daviess County, where he has since resided with the exception of one year in Union County, this State. He married Eliza A. Devine, by whom he has had nine children ; of these eight are living — Levisa, Harding, William E., Jefferson Davis, Matilda, Nettie, Eunice and Gipp. Mr. Clark owns 240 acres ol valuable laud. He is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Clark's father was the father of fourteen children, and died in this county, Nov. 16, 1865. William M. Cohen, M. D., a native of Germany, came to Amer- ica about 1866, and has traveled over the States and Territories, being at one time in California. He now owns a farm of about eighty-nine acres in Yanover Precinct, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He practiced medicine a few years and thus earned the title of M. D. He was married in September, 1871. to Digitized by Microsoft® 840 HISTOKT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Amanda Davis, daughter of John L. Davis. Five children were born to them, four living — Caroline, "William T., Henry A. and Emery. Solomon Grabtree was born in Jackson County, Tenn., in Feb- ruary, 1827, and came to Daviess County when thirteen years of age. He owns a farm of ninety acres, twelve miles south of Owensboro, on Panther Creek. He was married in September, 1850, to Lucinda Crabtree, a native of Daviess County, born in 1827. They have seven children — William J., Moses, Susan J., Margaret, Solomon, Elizabeth and Sarah. Mr. Crabtree is a mem- ber of the Baptist church. William J. Crabtree was born in Vanover Precinct, Sept. 2, 1821, and still resides in his native precinct. Hig father, Moses Crabtree (deceased), came from Virginia to this county in an early day, and was one of the first settlers of Vanov.er Precinct. Will- iam J. was reared in the woods of Vanover, among the deer, bear, wolves, turkeys and other wild game. He was married March 2, 1851, to Elizabeth Vanover, daughter of Samuel Vanover. Mr. Crabtree owns 105 acres of land, and is engaged in general farm- ing. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mt. Zion. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. E. Edwards was born in McLean County, Ky., Jan. 29, 1854, and came to Daviess County in 1864. He is a son of W. and Christian (Mitchell) Edwards, natives of Green County, Ky., and North Carolina, respectively, his father born in 1826 and his mother in 1 832. He has one sister, Mattie, now Mrs. John St»w- .art. Mr. Edwards was reared on a farm and received his early ed- ucation in the district schools, attending the Southwest Institute four years. He is unmarried and resides with his parents in Van- over Precinct. In 1882 he was elected Surveyor of Daviess County. William W. Elliott, of Vanover Precinct, is a native of Madi- son County, Ky., and was born Oct. 22, 1828. His father, David Elliott, was a native of this State, and came to Daviess County in 1843, our subject not coming until 1847. He moved here in 1850. He has always been a farmer, and now owns 200 acres of fine farming land, besides having given 100 acres to his sons. He was married Dec. 26, 1851, to Mary Simons, daughter of George Simons. They have had ten children, of whom eight are living — Penelope B., James F., William B., Emily A., John E., Mary J., Parthena M. and Frances A. Mr. E. was Constable one term. Digitized by Microsoft® VANOVEB PKECIKOT. 841 Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Joseph, H. Erwin (deceased), late of Vanover Precinct, was born in South Carolina, Aug. 28, 1816, and was a sou of Robert Erwin, who came with his family to this county in 1837. Joseph H. was grown, but he also accompanied the family. He was married Nov. 10, 1839, to Emily Shipley, daughter of Benjamin Shipley (deceased). They had twelve children, eight of whom are living — Mary J., Robert, James, George, Melissa, Eebecca, Hannah and Emeline. Mr. Erwin died May 15, 1882. James Faulkner was born in Green County, Ky., Feb, 9, 1824. In 1849 he went to Harrison County, Ind., and remained till 1865, when he moved to McLean County, Ky. In 1879 he came to Da- viess County, and bought a farm of 136 acres in Vanover Precinct. He was one of Daviess County's well-to-do farmers. He was married Feb. 18, 1847, to Matilda Carrick, a native of Bath County, Ky., born in 1832. They have six children. Mr. Faulk" ner and his family are members of the Christian church. Ed. Ooodwin, Justice of the Peace of Vanover Precinct, was born in Daviess County, Jan. 22, 1838, and is a son of Amos H. Goodwin, a native of Jefferson County, Ky. Oar subject was brought up on a farm, but his father being also a blacksmith, he early leariied that trade, at which he worked for ten years. In 1870 he engaged in the mercantile and tobacco trade at his present place of business. He was married in 1871 to Miss Dora Miller, daugh- ter of Dr. W. B. Miller, of McLean County, this State. They have had two children — Emma M. and Lavinia. The 'Squire hag, been magistrate for Vanover Precinct for the past sixteen years, and is still occupying that position; and, also, is a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity. George M. Hemingway, Vanover Precinct, was born in Daviess County, Sept. 13, 1841. He was brought up a farmer's boy on his father's farm, and has always followed that occupation. He mar- ried Feb. 21, 1867, Mary F. Short, daughter of Aaron Short. They have had six children, five living — E. Alma, Florence D., Alvey L., Tiny A. and Benjamin S. Mr. Hemingway owns 140 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Deacon in the Brushy Fork Baptist Church. Willis T. Hemingway, the father of the above, was born in King and Queen County, Va., Jan. 17, 1806, and is a son of Samuel Hemingway (deceased), also a native of Virginia Digitized by Microsoft® 842 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. He came witli his parents to Daviess County in 1818, anc" settled seven miles above Owensboro, among the deer, wolves, bear, wild turkeys, etc. He was married June 7, 1832, to Elizabeth Lump- kin, by whom he had six children, three living — William, George M. and Mary. One son, Alvey, died after reaching manhood. Mrs. Hemingway died March 16, 1881. Mr. Hemingway moved to his present location in 1852. For many years Mr. H. has been a Baptist. Francis M. Howard is a native of Daviess County, and was born Nov. 22, 1840. His father, Andrew Howard, was an early settler of this county. He was brought up on his father's farm, and was educated in a subscription school. He married Sidney A. Young, daughter of Adam Young, in November, 1866. They are the parents of six children, of whom four are living — Melvina, Ellen F., Elizabeth and Marcus. Mr. Ploward was a soldier for Uncle Sam in the late war, for about four years, in Company C, Twenty-sixth Kentucky Kegiment V^olunteer Infantry, and partici- pated in the battles of Sliiloh, JSTashville, Fort Wilmington, N. C, and others. During his army life he was commissioned to the office of Quartermaster's Sergeant, and served in that capacity for some time. Mr. Howard owns 192 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. John L. Iglehart, Vanover Precinct, was born in this precinct Feb. 28, 1835, and is a son of William D. Iglehart (deceased), a native of Ohio County, who settled in this county about the year 1832. John L. was reared a farmer's boy, and educated in a sub- scription school in an old log cabin, and sat on a slab. He was married Feb. 9, 1860, to Amanda F. Burns, daughter of Lewis I. Eurns. They have eight children — Theodocia, Elizabeth J., Ma- tilda, Otis, James, Maggie, Lewis I. and Amanda F. Mr. Iglehart owns 270 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and raising stock. Mrs. Iglehart also owns 160 acres of land, making in all 430 acres. Mr. Iglehart is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and also of the Baptist church, and was for many years Clerk of the latter. John G. Kennedy, farmer and stock-raiser, Vanover Precinct, is a native of this precinct, and was born May 20, 1845. His father, John Kennedy (deceased), was also a native of this county. Mr. Kennedy was reared on the farm, and received a limited education in the common schools. He was a soldier for Uncle Sam three years in the late war, in Company C, Seventeenth Regiment Ken- Digitized by Microsoft® TANOVEE PKECINCT. 843 tncky Volunteers, Infantry, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Chattanooga, Missionary Kidge, siege of At- lanta, and others. He married Melissa Erwin, Nov. 1, 1866. Tliey have had eight children, seven living — Joan, Alonzo, Noah, Oily, Opy, "Walter and Sally. Mr. Kennedy owns 185 acres of land. George W. Kerrick, Yanover Precinct, is a native of Meade County, Ky., and was born Dec. 4, 1833. His father, Thomas Kerrick, came from Maryland to Louisville when quite small, and when that place was nothing but a fort. He was the father of twelve children, of whom our subject is the _, oungest. Mr. Ker- rick was brought up on the farm, and received a limited common school education in Breckinridge County, Ky. He came to this county in 1864, where he has since resided, in this precinct, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1861 to Margaret Goodwin, daughter of Amos Goodwin (deceased). They have had seven children; five are living — MoUie L., Susie, Dorcas M., Robert and James. Mr. Kerrick owns 290 acres of land. He is a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. David F. .Lee, Vanover Precinct, is a native of Davieps County, borp Jan. 29, 1840, in what is now a part of McLean County. His father, Simpson A. Lee, was born in Nelson County, this State. The family removed to Edwards County, 111., in the spring of 1840, $md back to Daviess County in 1844, wiiere David F. was reared on a farm, ^nd received a limited common-school education in Yanover Precinct. He was married Dec. 19, 1860, to Mary A. Hans- ford, daughter of Stephen Hansford. They have had thirteen chil- dren, of whom ten are living — Thomas F., Ida A., Samuel B., Altha J., Edna-E., John P., Onah, George R., William C. and lira. Mr. Lee is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and owns 172 acres of valuable land. He is a worthy Christian man, and a Baptist. His family are also professors of religion. James TF. Martain, of Yanover Pi'ecinct, was born on the Litchfield road, four miles above Owensboro, Daviess County, Aug. 2, 1833. His father, Henry Martain (deceased), was an early settler of this county. He has spent all his life tlius far on the farm. He married Fredonia Moseley in November, 1859. She is a daugh- ter of John T. Moseley (deceasedV They liave had six children, of whom five are living — George A., Antonia, Henry E., Ruth and Sally. Mr. Martain owns 213 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. From 1871 to 1873 he filled the office of Constable for Yanover Precinct. He served as School Trustee for many years. Digitized by Microsoft® 844 HISTOBY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Westerii R. Mitchell, of Vanover Precinct, was born in Cooper County, Mo., Aiiff. 22, 1844, and is a son of John G. Mitchell (de- ceased), a native of North Carolina. Our subject came with his parents to this county in 1845, where his father died Jan. 29, 1869; he was the father of four children, of whom Western R. is the old- est. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Allen. She died when Mr. Mitchell was yet a small boy. He was married Nov. 26, 1868, to Rebecca Erwin, daughter of Joseph H. Erwin (deceased). They have had three children, two living — Marcus R. and Myzell- ough E. Mr. Mitchell is engaged in general farming, and is also efficient in brick-laying and other mechanical work. Isaac F . Moseley, of Vanover Precinct, is of an old family of this county, and was born here Jan, 31, 1828. But the scene of his birth place has since been added to McLean County. Mr, Moseley's father, Presley Moseley, was a native of Hartford, Ky., and was a son of Robert Moseley, who came from Virginia to Kentucky over 100 years ago, and was one of the first settlers in Hart- ford. Our subject had but very limited educational advantages, as in that early day schools were few and of short duration each year, and were supported entirely by subscription. Mr. Moseley was married Nov. 11, 1848, to Lucy Travis, daughter of John Tra- vis (deceased). They had five children, four living — John P., William R., Charles J. and Susan N. Mrs. Moseley died in April, 1860. Mr. Moseley married, in January, 1S61, Tabitha Griffin, by whom lie has had six children, five now living — Sarah E., Arra M., Elijah C, Mary E. and Samuel J. T. Mr. Moseley is a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. His father was the father of twelve children, all of whom lived toman- hood and womanhood, and were all married by the same minister, the Rev. Frederick Tanner, a Baptist minister. Another very re- markable feature about it is, that when the first and second were married the eleventh and twelfth were yet unborn. When his parents died they had about 200 descendants. Jesse B. Moseley (deceased), late of Vanover Precinct, was born in this county (now McLean), near Glennville, on the old John Moseley farm, Oct. 20, 1810. His father, John Moseley, was one of the first settlers in this locality. He was brought up on the place of his nativity, and received a limited education in a sub- scription school. He was married Dec. 19, 1837, to Miss Joanna Downs, daughter of Thomas Downs, an early settler, where Dela- ware now stands, in Cnrdsville Precinct. This union was blessed Digitized by Microsoft® TAJSrOVEE PEKOINOT. 845 with eleven children, of whom nine are living — Viroillas L., John T., Cordillian, Josephine, Luther, Mortimer, William B., Jesse D. and Nester C. One daughter, Emily (Mrs. Boston), died at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Moseley owned iSOfacres of land and was a farmer and stock-raiser. He was one of the original or charter members of the Sand Springs Cumberland Presbyterian church, which was organized in 1844, and in 1846 he was made an Elder in that church, which position he held up to the time of his nleath, which occurred April 3, 1874. Merit 0. Moseley, Vanover Precinct, was born in this county March 25, 1834, and is a son of John T. Moseley (deceased), also a native of this State. Merit 0. was reared on a farm and educated in a subscription school. He was married Sept. 7, 1856, to Sarah E. Hansford, daughter of William Hansford. They have six ohil- ■dren — John W. , Thomas P., Euth, Samuel M., Leslie and Madison. Mr. Moseley owns 290 acres of valuable land and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. When he began life he commenced in the woods and has cleared out a large tract of land. He is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Mt, Pleasant. Goliwmhus M. Murphy was born in Vanover Precinct, Jan. 24, 1855, and still resides on a portion of the old homestead. He was reared on the farm, and educated under the teaching of Prof. Alex- ander, who is now at Hartford, Ky. Mr. Murphy taught school for hve term* immediately after leaving Prof. Alexander's school. He was married Feb. 17, 1876, to Nancy E. Kirkland, daughter of Joseph Kirkland, of this precinct. They have three children — Mary A., Lydia M. and Cora E. Mr. Murphy owns ninety-eight acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are members of the Baptist church. Mat- thew Murphy, the father of C. M., was born in one of the upper counties of Kentucky, May 9, 1811, and is a son of Daniel Mur- phy (deceased), who came from Ireland to America in an early day. He had no early educational advantages of any consequence, and has spent all his life on the farm. He is now seventy-two years old. He was married Sept. 24, 1835, to Mary Moore. They had ten children, seven living— John, William, Columbus M., Jane, Lucinda, Elizabeth and Ellen. Mrs. M. died Nov. 24, 1867, ^nd April 28, 1858, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, daughter of Philip Burns. They have had two children, one living — Lydia Belle (Thomason). Mrs. M. had two children by her first husband, one living — Josephine (Crabtree). Digitized by Microsoft® 846 HISTOET OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Ddbney V. Bohertsbn, Vanover Precinct, was born in this county April 20, 1837, and is a son of "Wra. IST. Robertson (deceased), a native of Nelson County, who came to Daviess County over fifty years ago. Mr. Robertson has spent his life thus far on a farm, and received a common-school education. He is also a bricklayer. He was married Oct. 27, 1857, to Hannah E. Hendricks, by whom he had eight children, six now living — Henrietta F., Louis N., Olive J., Samuel B., Ida M. and Charlotte O. Mrs. Robertson died in 1872, and he again married in 1874, this time to Annie Arnold, by whom he had two children — ^Arthur J. and Charles W. Mr. Rob- ertson owns 136 acres of land and is engaged in farming and rais- ing stock. He is a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Mt. Pleasant. Comelma M. Ruby, Vanover Precinct, was born in Henderson County, Ky.^ June 28, 1835, and is a son of Matthew Ruby (de- ceased), a native of Hardin County, this State. The elder Mr. Ruby removed his family to Daviess County in 1847, where he died Dec. 2, 1868. He was a worthy Christian, and had long been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian churoh. Cornelius M- Ruby was married Nov. 5, 1857, to Elizabeth F. Moseley, daughter of John T. Moseley (deceased). They have had thirteen children, of whom eleven are living — John M., Yirginia, Mary E., Susan, William S., Anna F., Zon B., Charles E., G. Robert, Mattie and Ettie. Mr. Ruby owns 300 acres of valuable land and is engaged in farming and stock-raising, at which he has been epiinently suc- cessful. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 'William Short was born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., March 5, 1819, and is a son of George Short (deceased), who brought his family to this county in 1827, and settled on Green River. Our subject was brought up, as it were, in the woods, and had no edu- cational advantages, except attending a subscription school about six months, having to walk four miles across the flats, through a wilderness, inhabited only by bears, panthers, wolves, etc. ^e was married Oct. 17, 1847, to Mary Crabtree, daughter of Jacob Crab- tree. They have had seven children, of whom five are living — Emily, JuKa A., B. Jacob, Amney, and Wm. Isaac. Ja/mes M. Vanover (commonly called Shoemaker Jim), Yan- over Precinct, was born in Franklin County, Tenn., May 10, 1832, and is a son of Henry Yanover (deceased), who came to this county Digitized by Microsoft® VANOVEE PEECINCT. 847 when James M. was a small boy. Mr. Vanover worked hard when a boy, and had bnt limited educational advantages. In 1855 he ma,rried Elizabeth Bowers, by whom he has five children — JohnC, Rachel, Sarah M., Mary J. and Rose E. Mr. Vanover owns eighty- four acres of land and is engaged in general farming. His family are members of the Baptist church. James Vunover, Jr., Yanover Precinct, is a native ot this pre- cinct, and was born Nov. 25, 1854. He was brought up on his father's farm and received a common-school education. He was married March 14, 1878, to Madora Shutt. They have three chil- dren— Ona L., Nettie A. and an infant girl. Mr. Vanover owns fifty acres of lan-d and is engaged in general farming. He is a member of the Brushy Fork Baptist Church. John H. Vanover, father of the above, was born in Macon County, Tenn., July 28, 1822, and is a son of Henry Vanover, a native of Virginia. Mr. Vanover had no educational advantages, but had to educate his muscular forces in clearing out the thick woods of this precinct, and his native county. He came to this county in 1844, and settled in this precinct. In 1851 he married Sarah Crabtree, by whom he had ten children, but five of them now living — "William W., James, Daniel E., Moses M., and Mary E. Mr. Vanover owns 325 acres of valuable land, and has always been a farmer. In 1846 he joined the Brushy Fork Baptist Church, being one of the charter, or original, members. JeptUi Vanover, of Vanover Precinct, is a native of East Ten- nessee, and was born Sept. 16, 1848. His father, Samuel Vanover, removed to Daviess County in December following Jeptlli's birth. Mr. Vanover was brought up on the farm and educated in the com- mon school. He was married in October, 1869, to Julia A. L. Short, daughter of William Short, of this precinct. They have five children — Fanny, Edward, Jacob, Arthur and Luther. Mr. Van- over owns 102f acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock- raising. He is a Methodist in religious faith, and Mrs. Vanover is a Baptist. Mr. Vanover has an adopted child, Henry Wallace. He is also guardian for Annie Crabtree. John S. Vanover, Vanover Precinct, was born in East Tennes- see, June 5, 1833, and is a son of Samuel Vanover, who brought his family to Daviess County in 1848, where he lived till his death, which occurred April 10, 1876. Mr. Vanover has spent all his life thus far on a farm. His educational advantages were limited. He was married Dec. 8, 1857, to Luvenia "Wall, daughter of Robert Digitized by Microsoft® €48 HI8T0ET OF DAVIESS OOUNTT. Wall (deceased). They had seven children, of whom five are liv ing — George "W"., Ida B., Alvah, Mary A. and Ollie M. Mrs. Vanover died June 10, 1878, and he married, Sept. 28, 1880, Miss Jemina Jarrett, daughter of John and Lillie (Vesie) Jarrett. Mr. Vanover owns a very desirable farm of 136 acres of valuable land, well timbered and watered, and is engaged in farming and stock- raising. W. W. Vanover, Vanover Precinct, is a native of Daviess County, and was born Jan. 22, 1852. He is a son of John H. Van- over, of this precinct, and is the oldest of ten children. He married Emma, daughter of Kaide Hyatt, March 28, 1872. They have had six children, five of whom are living — Raide L., Benjamin 0., Sarah L., Evelina and Frances M. Mr. Vanover owns .108 acres of valu- able land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He also owns and runs a threshing machine. He was School Trustee for three years, and Overseer two years. Is a member of the Brushy Fork Baptist Church. Digitized by Microsoft® CHAPTER XXVIII. YELVINGTON PRECINCT. In 1867 tlie boundaries of this precinct were thus described by the County Court: Beginning at the intersection of the Jo. Wright and Hawesville road, thence with the Jo. Wrignt road to the Ohio River, thence up the Ohio River to the mouth of Blackford, thence up Blackford to the White Oak ford, thence to the Barker road at D. Winkler, Jr.'s, excluding him, thence with the Barker road to intersection of new road and Barker road at corner of pre- cincts Nos. 2 and 4, thence a direct line to the beginning. The precinct and village of Yelvington derive their name from Mr. Telverton Overly, one of the earliest settlers of the town, who had a blacksmith shop where the village of Telvingtou now stands; Yelvington is a corruption of Yelverton. Its extreme dimensions each way are iibout eight miles, and its northernmost point, at the mouth of Pup Creek, is the most northern point in the county. Pup Creek rnns westward through the southern portion, and Little Blackford Creek drains a portion of the north side. The village of Yelvington is situated east of the center of the precinct, on the Owensboro and Hawesville road. The low land of the precinct along the river was once the most densely populated portion; but it is now the least inhabited, as most of this land is subject to over- flow, and cannot therefore be drained and subdued. The lowlands of the river and of the bottoms of Blackford and Pup creeks consti- tute one third of the territory of this precinct. The upland is undulating and hilly, especially along the northeastern border where the bluffs of Blackford Creek are very prominent, some of them being 150 feet high. The river and creek bottoms are a rich, sandy loam, and yield large crops of corn and tobacco; but the area of tillable land can not be extended by drainage, on account of its being subject to overflow. There is coal in all the bluffs of Blackford Creek, and at one point lead was once found in an early day, from which the settlers made bullets. There is probably more limestone iu this precinct than in any other part of the county. The land here was 54 (849) Digitized by Microsoft® 850 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTT. once covered with a dense forest, which has not yet altogether dis- appeared. EAELT SETTLEMENT. The first settler in this precinct was Valentine Husk, who came in 1796, and after living a short time at Yellow Banks settled at the mouth of Pap Creek. In 1804 he moved to Knottsville Pre- cinct, where he died. James Smeathers and James Adam's came very early; both subsequently settled in Knottsville, and died many years ago. Richard C. Jett, born in Virafinia, settled on Black- ford Creek in 1809. Hon. Benjamin Duncan was one of the pioneers. He was from Virginia, and died in the Kentucky Senate in 1824. Charles Dlincan, James Bates, Charles Worthington, the Edwards family, Amos Shaw, Amos Riley, General John Davis and Harry Willis were early settlers. The Roberts family came early. Their names were Merry, Benjamin, Harry and Wesley. Merry Roberts was; a soldier in the war of 181§. Richard Hawes came from Jefferson County in 1821, and bought large tracts of land in Daviess and Hancock counties. Enoch Kendall came about the same time that Hawes did; he was a soldier ia the war of 1812. George and James Haywood, brothers, came prior to 1825. Mr. Gentry, Amos Moore and a Mr. Shaw settled near Blackford Creek. Thomas Clay, James Estes and Mr. Mills were also early settlers. Icelcmd is a steamboat landing on the Ohio River, the only land- ing capable of being used in all stages of water for twenty miles above Owensboro, on the Kentucky side of the river. TELVINGTON. This village was never regularly laid out. The first house was built by Yelverton Overly, after whom the place was named. He built a dwelling house and a blacksmith shop, and ran it many years. The first store was kept by Thomas Pointer, in 1830. Soon after, Mr. Oglesby bought land and established a store. He also kept the first hotel. There are now two dry-goods stores, one grocery, two hotels, two saloons, two churches and one physician. The village is situated at the crossing of the old State road leading from Elizabeth town to Shawneetown, and on the old road from Hartford, striking the Ohio River at the mouth of Blackford Creek. These were originally old Indian trails, and the roads when laid out were among the first in the county. A postoflBce was established at an early date. Digitized by Microsoft® YELVINGTON PKECINCT. S51 CHUECHES. Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized about 1842, with only a dozen members. A frame house was built the same year, 40x 30 feet. Among the first members were Willis Roberts, who gave the ground for the church. William, Eobert, Wesley and Henry Roberts, Thomas Hadley and wife and Mr. Haywood. The house was wrecked by a storm , and in A801-^a new frame house was built, 50x30 feet. It was dedicated by Dr. George Hayes, now of Cloverport. There are now about sixty members. Services every fourth Sunday by the Pastor, Rev. B. F. Orr. Sab- bath-school every Sabbath. Yelvington Baptist Church was organized in a private house, June 30, 1813, about two miles southwest of its present location, and at what was then known as the '' Rock Spring." There were eleven constituent members, viz: Matthew Rogers, Samuel Bris- tow, William P. Hudson, Henry White, Jacob Miller, Eleanor Rogers, Elizabeth Keeth, Mary Rogers, Susan Calhoon and Jane Wright. Elders Benjamin Talbott and John Weldon were in the council of recognition. A church covenant was adopted, and nine articles of faith. One article recognized feet-washing as a church ordinance, to be observed immediately after the Lord's Supper. Another article required its members to contribute to the pastor's support according to his necessities, and their ability to give. A third article repudiated alien immersion. The first regular meet- ing was held July 11, 1813. At the second meeting, which was in August, Elder John Welden was called as Pastor and accepted; first Clerk was William P.Hudson; first Deacon, Matthew Rog- ers. This being in a portion of Ohio County, the church assumed the name of the "Panther Creek Church, of Ohio County, near Yellow Banks." Samuel Bristow and Matthew Rogers were licensed to preach near the close of the year. The church became a member of Gasper River Association in 1815. Weldon resigned in 1816, after a successful career; he was succeeded by Elder Thomas Downs. In 1817 steps were taken to build a house, and the name was changed to "Rock Spring." It was a large frame building, but was never entirely completed. In 1818 the church withdrew from the Gasper River Association and joined the Goshen Association. During the year 1819 an arm was formed above near Blackford Creek; its members were allowed to transact business and report annually. Samuel Hemingway was ordained Digitized by Microsoft® -852 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Deacon at this time to assist Brother Rogers. From 1821 to 1826 the church grew weaker, spiritually. The members met regularly, ibut only engaged in settling difficulties, excluding members and granting letters of dismission. The. colored members, who com- posed a large part of the church, were frequently involved in diffi- culties among themselves; few persons united with the church during this period. In 1828 a great revival took'place among the colored people, and many of them were added to the church during the year. Several colored men were licensed to preach in 1827. There was a great revival in 1834, among both white and colored. Among the accessions were Kichard and George N. McKay and wives, of Owensboro. William T. Mason was ordained Deacon in 1833. In 1835 several withdrew to organize a church in Owensboro, :and others took letters to go into a church on Panther Creek. Mr. Downs resigned ,in 1840, to travel as missionary in the Associa- tion, but afterward closed that work and resumed charge of the -church. About this time a new chruch was built, and the whites and colored people met in separate congregations. Downs gave up the church in 1842, having been its Pastor nearly twenty- iive years. Elder William Head succeeded him. Elder Willit M. Picket held laeetings in the vicinity of the church that year, by whose help and the work of pastors nearly fifty were added to it. Head resigned at the close of 1848. Elder Dowden became Pastor the next May, on a salary of $150 a year for one half his time, one third of it to be paid in pro- duce. He served two years, 0. J. Kelley was called in 1851, but it is not certainly known how long he served. Dec. 9, 1854, twenty-two members were lettered to organize at South Hampton. It was during this year that the place of worship was changed from Eock Spring to Yelvington. In March, 1855, William Head again became Pastor. In February, 1857, T. jS". Robinson was called, and soon after this the present commodious brick structure was built. Robinion resigned in May, 1859, and K. G. Hay became Pastor. In 1860 the name was changed from Rock Spring to Yel- vington. Hay resigned, and J. N". Dawson was called in 1860, and served nearly four years. This was tlie most critical period in the history of the chui'ch, owing to the political troubles during the war. D. E. Yeiser became Pastor in 1866. In September, 1867, thirty-iive persons were lettered to organize the Chestnut Grove church. Yeiser resigned in December, 1868, and H. T. Lampton became Pastor, and served till May, 1873. B. E.Cosby Digitized by Microsoft® Ti'ELVINGrON PEKCINCT. 85S then served two years. W. H. Dawson was called in October, 1875, and is the present Pastor. Since the war the colored members have drawn off and worship alone. Rev. Dawson is an earnest worker and a thorough scholar. Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. — This church is beautifully lo- cated in the northeasterii part oF Daviess County, near Blackford Creek. It was constituted in 1868 with nearly forty members. It was an outgrowth of missionary labors of Kevs. Ellis, Stephens, Daviess, Cundift, and a few others. Ehier A. G. Daveiss, a na- tive of this county, was the first Pastor, and served two years. During the time an elegant frame building was begun and finished. Elder H. Y. Lamjjton became the successor of Elder Daveiss, and served live years. lie was followed by Elder Daveiss, who contin- ued one year with the clnirch, and was succeeded by Elder B. E. Cosbj', of Virginia, who officiated one year. In 1877 Elder W. H- Dawson was called and still continues as Pastor. Regular preach- ing is held one Sabbath in each month. The clmrcli has been very prosperous. Several successful revival meetings have been held at different times. ASA SMEA'rtlERS. This gentleman is one of the oldest in the county. He was born in Owensboro, Sept. 4, 1804. His father, James Smeathers, was a pioneer liere, and lived just across the line in Knottsville, where he died many year.s ago. March 25, 1825, Mr. Smeathers married Mary E. Duncan, daughter of Hon. Benjamin Duncan, and they had nine children; live are living, namely: Harold, Archie, John T., Mary A. and James T. Banjamin died in 1881, aged forty- iive years; Elizabeth (Mrs. Kinne)died in 1857, aged thirty-three years, leaving four children. "When Mr. Smeathers was young, wolves, deer and bears were verv abundant. He has seen as many as fifteen deer in a drove, and has killed a great many. He has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church abjut sixty years. .lOIIN I,EE. Tins pioneer was b-irn in Virginia, and came to this county in 1821. He was always a farmer, and formerly owned many slaves; also owned 420 acres of land. He was a descendant of John Loe, of Revolutionary fame, and belonged to the same family as General Robert E. Lee. He married his cousin, Nancy Lee. and died in 1840 Digitized by Microsoft® 854 HISTOBT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. ELECTIONS. For politics of parties see Lower Town. 1840, Aug. 5: Governor — French, 51; Letcher, 46. Sena- tor— Griffith, 61. Representative to Legislature — Sett, 65; Trip- lett, 43. 1852, Aug. 2: Sheriff — Landrum, 46; Veech, 85. For railroad tax, 3; against, 129. 1854, Aug. 7: Appellate Judge — John H. McHenry, 81; H. J. Stites, 40. County Judge — A. G. Botts, 32; George D. Yeaman, 107. Commonwealth Attorney — Mitchell Calhoon, 36; Wm. N. Sweeney, 93. County Clerk — Graham Hughes, 70; James B. Wat- kins, 70. Sheriff — Robert P. Sharpe, 57: Joseph Harrison, 86. Assessor — James Stillman, 9; George L. Ileywood, 93; James Lashbrook, 6; A. Johnson, 21. Surveyor — Samuel Shepherd, 107. Coroner — Wm. Johnson, 64; Harrison Manzy, 48. 1856, Aug. 4: Circuit Judge — Jesse W. Kincheloe, 57; James Stuart, 69. Commonwealth Attorney — B. H. Helm, 61. Circuit Clerk— J. Thomas, 77; J. P. Thompson, 78. Sheriff— J. G. Mc- Farland, 68 ; J. G. Harrison, 103. 1856, Nov. 4: President — Buchanan, 86; Fillmore, 91. 1867, May 2; Constable — James Veech, 47; John B. Heywood, 54. Justice — William Riley, 84. 1857, Aug. 3: State Treasurer— T. L. Jones, 61; J. H. Garrard, 66. Congressman — J. S. Johnson, 78; S. O. Peyton, 80. Sena- tor— W. B. Wall, 82; A. D. Cosby, 74. Representative to Leg- islature- F. J. McLean, 71; F. M. Daily, 81. 1858, Aug. 2: Appellate Clerk— R. R. Revill, 74; G. R. Mc- Kee, 74. Commonwealth's Attorney — Jesse Taylor, 72; C. C. Maxwell, 75. County Judge — L. D. Shepherd, 36; A. G. Botts, 108. County Clerk— S. McClarty, 81; J. B. Watkins, 94. Sher- iff— Joseph Veech, 78; John Locke, 117. County Attorney — J. McHenry, 74; H. E. Smith, 67. Coroner— W. C. Norris, 105. 1860, Aug. 6: Appellate Clerk— C. McClarty, 78; Leslie Combs, 73. Sheriff— J. H. Scott, 72; John Locke, 107. County Attorney —J. R. Clay brook, 44; J. H. McHenry, 73. Colonel— R. S. Boyd, 43. Lieutenant-Colonel — J. P. Thompson, 40. 1861, June 20: Congressman — J. T. Bunch, 65; J. S. Jack- son, 36. 1861, Aug. 6: State Treasurer- G. Terry, 107; J. H. Garrard, 31. Senator — J. B. Vance, 164; William Anthony, 46. Repre- Digitized by Microsoft® YELVINGTON PEECINCT. 855 sentative to Legislature — C. Y. Noel, 159; G. H. Yeaman, 53. Constable — Shaunter, 152. 1862, A-ug. 4: Appellate Judge — K. A. Williaras, 18. Circuit Judge — James Stuart, 10; H. B. Wall, 17. Cominonwealth At- torney— John Chapeze, 14. Presiding Judge — T. L. Beers, 6; A. G. Botts, 11. Circuit Clerk— Joseph Thomas, 17. County Clerk —John O'Brien, 15. Sheriff— J. G. Harrison, 22. County At- torney— II. S. McFariand, 15. Assessor— J. W. Onan, 11; W- L. Moseley, 9. Surveyor — JST. W. Scott, 6 Coroner— J. "W". Roser, 8. 1862, Oct. 27: Congressman — G. H. Yeaman, 10; Edward R. "Weir, 5. 1863, May 2: Justices— D. D. Jewell, 18: W. C. Roberts, 23; H. N. Davis, U. Constable— C. N Pierce, 27. 1863, Aug. 3: Governor— T. E. Bramlette, 22; C. A. Wickliff, 87. Congressman — G. H. Yeaman, 22; J. K. McHenry, 87: Representative to Legislature — J. S. McFariand, 21; A. J. Mc- Atee, 73. 1864, Aug. 1: Sheriff— A. J. McAtee, 62; J. G. Harrison, 15. Assessor — "William Onan, 78. Justices — "William Hays, 65; James Veech, 7. Constable — C. Y. Pierce, 75. 1864, Nov. 8: President— George B. McClellan, 97; A. Lin- coln, 1. 1865, Aug. 7: Congressman — Geo. H. Yeaman, 1; B. C. Bit- ter, 92. State Treasurer, "W. S. Neale, 1; J. H. Garrard, 50. Sen. ator — A. D. Cosby, 5. Representative to Legislature — J. Veech, 88; T. Maddux, none. 1866, Aug. 6: Appellate Clerk— E. PL Hobson, 10; A. Duval, 186. County Judge— E. C. Berry, 10; J. S. McFariand, 13; G. "W. Triplett, 175. County Clerk— John O'Brien, 10; J. M. Hughes, 6; B. Duncan, 18; T. C. Jones, 156. Sheriff— W. H. Perkins, 158; E. A. Hathaway, 56. County Attorney — A. R. Taylor, 165; Thomas Crutcher, 9. Coroner— H. O'Brien, 47. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 190. Surveyor— A. "W. Scott, 142. For railroad tax, 128; against, 53. 1867, April 15: For county stock of $250,000 in the Owens- boro & Russell ville Railroad, 40; against, 113. 1867, May 4: Congressman — John Y. Brown, 111. Justices — Van Pierce, 78; Geo. F. Hawes, 75; R. M. Ilawes, 55. Consta- ble—James Veech, 95. 1867, Aug. 5: Governor — John L. Helm, 189. Circuit Judge — Digitized by Microsoft® 856 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. G. W. "Williams, 105; J. L. Johnson, 90. Common Pleas Judge — C. G. Wintersraith, 136; L. P. Little, 32. Eepresentative to Legislature— J. Veech, 6; H. C. McPherson, lOi; J. W. Moseley, 90. 1868, Aug. 3: Governor— J. W. Stevenson, 177. Circuit Judge — G. W. Williams, 211. Circuit Clerk— J. P. Thompson, 182; M. S. Ogden, 31. Commonwealth Attorney— Baker Boyd, 152; E. Y. Bush, 19; G. W. Swoope, 41. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 207. Surveyor— J. W. Sutherland, 171; Wilfred Carico, 2 . Consta- Ue—R. G. Duncan, 124; D. P. Thornbury, 50. 1868, Nov. 3: President — Horatio Seymour, 216; U. S. Grant, 1. Congressman — ^W. N". Sweeney, 211. 1869, May 1: Constable— K. G. Duncan, 48. 1869, Aug. 2: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 130; E. E. Wing, 1. Senator — Ed. Hawes, 145. Eepresentative to Legislature — C. Griffith, 101; J. W. Gabbert, 50. County Attorney— V. T. Craw- ford, 126. For school tax, 67; agiainst, 65. 1870, Aug. 1: Appellate Judge^-Wm. Lindsay, 150; E. K. Williams, 4. Circuit Judge — M. F. Cofer, 150. County Judge — G. W. Triplett, 149; A. G. Botts, 39. Coun.v Clerk— T. Jones, 150; J. K. P. Moore, 39. County Attorney— W. T. Ellis, 147; S. H. Haynes, 39. Sheriff— W. H. Scott, 151 ; Tapley Maddux, 89. Surveyor — J. W. Sutherland, 150 ; A. M. Mayo, 39. Assessor — J. W. Onan, 149; E. J. Wootten, 39. Coroner— A. J. McAtee, 145; W. J. Littell, 39. 1870, Nov. 8: Congressman— H. D. McHenry, 73; M.J. Eoi-k, 26. 1871, May 6: Justices— C. V. Pierce, 101; G. T. Hawes, 82; E. T. Stewart, 34; E. G. Duncan. Constable— E. L.EUie, 73; Eich- ard Hawes, 50. 1871, Aug. 7: Governor— P. H. Leslie, 221; J. M. Harlan, 37. Eepresentative to Legislature — C. Griffith, 95; S. H. Jesse, 128; F. H.Eoberts, 39. 1872, Aug. 5: County Clerk— Jo. Thomas, 103; J. G. McFar- land, 121. Sheriff— W. H. Perkins, 212; David Webb, 2. Con- stable—G. Allgood, 136; E. G. Duncan, 119. 1872, Nov. 5: President— H. Greeley, 197; U. S.Grant, 59; Charles O'Connor, 2. 1873, May 3: Justices— E. W. Hawes, 94; F. M. King, 98; F. F. McCormick, 10. Constable — F. H. Eoberts, 122; James Veech, 36. Digitized by Microsoft® TELVINGTON PRECINCT. 857 18Y3, Aug. 4: State Treasurer— J. W. Tate, 169. Senator— E. BLawes, 184; G. W. Swoope, 82; G. "W". Jolly, 31. Representa- tive to Legislature— Ben . Stout, 27; E. "W. McFarland, 128; H. McGill, 10; H. T. Aud, 48. 1874, Aug. 3: Appellate Clerk— T. 0. Jones, 250; J.B.Coch- ran, 2. Circuit Judge — L. P. Little, 207; Jas. Montgomery, 27; James Stuart, 81. Commonwealth Attorney — E. H. Brown, 161; Jo. Haycraft, 156. Circuit Clerk— F. F. Conway, 263. County Judge— G. W. Triplett, 192; G. W. Jolly, 125. County Attorney— W. T. Ellis, 263. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 258. Sheriff— H. W. Scott, 262. Coroner— G. W. Mathis, 195; Galloway, 6; Crask, 18. Surveyor — Robert Frey, 248. Assessor— W. T. Aull, 258. 1874, Nov. 3: Congressman— J. Y. Brown, 103; Geo. Smith, 146. For license, 137; against, 112; 1875, May 1: Justices— W. W. Morrison, 171; F. M. King, 32; Moses Fuqua, 87; M. D. Hord, 30; David Thornberry, 71. Con- stable— Lyman Peirce, 98; Gideon Allgood, 97. 1875, Aug. 2: Governor— J. B. McCreary, 175; J. M. Harlan, 22. Representative to Legislature — "W. J. Taylor, 178; J. G. Ford, 136; A. J. Philpot, 21. Surveyor— C.W. Gcrdoa, 174. 1876, Aug. 7: Circuit Judge— G. W. Ray, 141; J. A. Murray, 142. Sheriff— J. H. Gates, 202; R. R. Coomes, 96. For road law, 19; against, 283. Constable — Ben Smeathers, 11; J. H. Graves, 12, 1876, Nov. 2: President— S. J. Tilden, 249; R. B. Hayes, 58; G. C. Smith, 5. Congressmen — J. A. MeKenzie, 243; J. Z. Moore, 33. 1877, Aug. 6: State Treasurer— J. "W. Tate, 108. Senator— C. Griffith, 95; V. P. Stateler, 76. Representative to Legislature — C. R. Thorp, 125. Constable— H. Graves, 26; Lyman Peirce, 148. 1878, Ang. 5: Appellate Judge— T. W. Hinds, 235. County Judge— H. W. Scott, 168 ; Geo. W. Jolly, 146. County Attor- ney—J. L. McFarland, 260. Sheriff— E. C. Davis, 250; E. S. "Worthington, 4. Assessor— G. Allgood, 263; C. W. Thomas, 1. Surveyor— C. W. Gordon, 233. Coroner— J. W. Funk, 222. Jus- tices—J. T. Hawes, 103; G. W. Had ley, 96; M. P. Fuqua, 34; T. W. Miles, 154; F. W. Morrison, 209: D. H. Johnson, 20. Consta- ble—L. W. Pierce, 190; W. B. FuUenwider, 2; T. Shaw, 12; J. Thornbury, 121. For whisky, 176; against, 100. 1878, Nov. 5: Congressman — J. A. MeKenzie, 102; J. W. Feighan, 11; F. M. English, 6. Digitized by Microsoft® 858 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTr. 1879, Aug. 4: Governor— L. P. Blackburn, 149; W. Evans, 4. Representative to Legislature — R. W. McFarland, 152; James Rudy, 150; E. S. Worthington, 2; E. O'Fljnn, 2. For license, 49; against, 61. 1880, Aug. 2: Circuit Judge— James Stuart, 80; L. P. Little, 239. Commonwealth Attorney — Joe. Noe, 173; Jo. Haycraft, 150. Circuit Clerk— F. F. Conway, 259. Sheriff— E. C. Davis, 257. Surveyor— Ed. Edwards, 211. Constable— David Hall, 170; Walker Roberts, 111. 1880, Nov. 2: President— "W. S. Hancock, 242; J. A. Garfield, 63; J. B. Weaver, 1. Representative to Legislature — J. A. Mc- kenzie, 238; John Feland, 19; C. W. Cook, 6. 1881, Aug. 1: State Treasurer- J. W. Tate, 92. Senator— J. A. Munday, 99. 'Representative to Legislature — J. H. Rudy, 96; Geo. y. Triplett, 95. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 69. Coroner— P. W. Clark, 11; J. B. Whelan, 11; G. W. Mathis, 27. Constable— W. Roberts, 82. 1882, Aug 7: Judge of Superior Court— J. H. Bowden, 194. Appellate Clerk— T. J. Henry, 190; R. T. Jacob, 1. County Judge — H. W. Scott, 195. County Attorney— Martin Yewell, 201. County Clerk— M. S. Mattingly, 201. Sheriff— A. B. Miller, 119; J. J. Christian, 59. Surveyor — E. Edwards, 197. Coroner —Geo. M. Hayden, 197. Assessor — G. A. Allgood, 202. For school tax, 14; against, 190. Justices— G. W. Hadley, 212; Samuel L. Bise, 76; L. S. Pierce, 148. Constable — H. G. Duncan, 144; B. L. Tinsley; 60. 1882, Nov. 7: Congressman — James F. Clay, 68; W. M. Fuqua, 23. Magistrates' Courts: For one justice, the fourth Monday in March, June, September, and December; for the other, second Tuesday in these months. BIOGRAPHICAL. George W. Birk, son of the late J. A. Birk, for whom Birk City was named, was born in Cloverport, Ky., Dec. 22, 1852, and came to this county with his parents in 1857. He was educated in Birk City, Owensboro select schools, and Evansville, Ind., busi- ness college. In 1871 he engaged in the mercantile business in Owensboro. In 1872 he returned to Birk City, and was employed in the store of his brother, J. F., till 1875. In 1876 and 1877 he engaged in the tobacco business, and in 1878 went to Grissom's Digitized by Microsoft® YELVINGTON PRECINCT. 859 Landing and renaained till 1879. In 1880 he went to Owensboro, and engaged with his brother, F. J., in the grocery business. In June, 1881, he sold out and came to Yelvington, where he is now engaged in the general mercantile business, including drugs and medicines. He also owns an interest in the grocery and provision store of Birk & Pool. July 17, 1877, h& married Sue M. Hawes, daughter of Edwin Kawes, a native of Virginia. Slie died Dec. 24, 1878. May 30, 1882, he married Mary A., daughter of Rich- ard "W. Hawes, a native of this counJt:y. Mr. Birk has been Post- master of Yelvington since March 16, 1882. IT 3 is a member of the Baptist church. Samuel Bise, born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1837, is a son of Henry Bise, a native of Knox County, Pa. His parents removed to Scioto County, Ohio, in the fall of 1837, where he was reared and educated. In July, 1862, he went to Eockport, Ind., and in 1867 came to Daviess County, and now owns 103J acres of land three miles northwest of Yelvington. He was married in 1851 to Jemima Derrough. Of their four children but two are living — "William and Samuel. His wife died in 1867, and in Octo- ber, 1873, Mr. Bise married jS'eoma, daughter of Daniel Hall. They have had six children, five now living — David, Elizabeth, James, Barney and Robert. Elijah Boards son of James and Permelia (Cummings) Board, was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., March 15, 1844. His grandfathers, Elijah Board and Presley Cummings, both came from Virginia to Breckinridge County, Ky., in an early day. Mr. Board came to Daviess County in 1867 and settled in Yelvington Pre- cinct. He was married in the fall of 1871 to Mrs. Laura Hicks, daughter of Cyrus Hill. Her grandfather, John Hill, is now nearly 100 years old. He came up the Ohio on the first steam-boat that ever ascended that river. Mr. and Mrs. Board have two children — Francis A. and Ethel. Mrs. Board has one child by her former marriage — Edith Hicks. George TF. Boswell was born in Trimble County, Ky., June 20, 1830. His father, Henson Boswell, a native of Virginia, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died when George W. was quite small. The family afterward, in 1834, came to Daviess County. When be was eleven years old tliey went to Montgomery County, Tenn., and all the schooling George W. ever had was nine months in the subscription school taught by John D. Tyler, of that county. He removed to Hancook County, Ky., in 1850, and in 1878 re- Digitized by Microsoft® 860 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. turned to Daviess County. When nine years old he was sent to the horse-mill, a distance of eight or nine miles, starting and returning in the night. He was married in 1851 to Susan E. Estes. Of their four children but one is living — Hardin N. Mrs. Boswell died, and in 185S Mr. Boswell married Lettie Morgan. Eleven chil- dren have been born to them, ten living — Ann E., Kate E-, Jeffersou D., George O; M., Martha M., Sallie E., Sudie M. and Mary Carrie (twins), Robert W. Q. Hud David K. During tlie late war Mr. Bos- well enlisted in Company G, Ninth Kentucky Confederate Cavalry; was with Morgan on hia raid as far as Brandenburg. Hev. William H. Dawson^ Pastor of the Baptist church Yel- vington, was born in Upper Town Precinct, Daviess Co., Ky., Nov. 30, 1841, and was a son of Gibson Dawson, a native of Ohio Countj^, Ky. liis early life was spent on a farm, his education being received in the common schools and at a select school in Owensboro. Feeling that he was called to the ministry he studied to that end, and in 1867 began his labors in the Macedonia Church. In 1870 he went to Hawesville and had charge of the First Bap- tist Church fn- five years. He then took charge of the Southamp- ton church, Daviess County, and remained there till 1881. In 1878 lie came to Yelvington and took the pastorate of the church here, having both churches under his care. While in Hawesville Mr. Dawson had a four daj's' discussion with Geo. G. Taylor, a Reformer, or Campbellite; in Southampton he had a six days' dis- cussion with Rev. J. M. Lawson, Presiding Elder of the Owensboro District, M. E. Conference, and in Yelvington had a six days' dis- cussion with Rev. B. F. Orr, a Methodist clergyman. He was married Nov. 12, 1866, to Nettie W., daughter of A- Gallatin Howard. Six children were born to them, only four now living — John C, George W., Cora and Arthur W. William B. Duncan (deceased), born in Daviess County, Ky., May 1, 1816, was a son of Robert Duncan, an early settler of this county. His education was received in the primitive log school- house. He was reared a farmer, and always followed that occupa- tion. Dec. 12, 1841, he married Celia Head. To them were born six children, five living — Elizabeth, Henry J., Robert F., Jennie and John B. His wile died Aug. 29, 1856, and Nov. 11, 1857, he married Mrs. Anna Haygood, a widow lady with two children — Kate and Georgia. Three children were born to them — William N., Rosa Lee and Clinton C. Soon alter his first marriage Mr. Duncan settled in this precinct on the farr.i where his cliildren now Digitized by Microsoft® YEI.VrNrjTON rRECINCT. 861 live, and where he died June 1, 1882. His wife preceded liim Dec. 10, 1867. lie was a member of the Metliodist Episcopal church at Bethlehem, and belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Ilis son, John B., is a subscriber to "Daviess County History." P. S. Graves was born in Amherst County, Ya. , Aug. 9, 1844. His father, Eice Graves, was also a native of Virginia, and came to Kentucky when P. S. was an infant, locating in Breckinridge County. He came to Daviess County in 1847, and settled in this precinct. Mr. Graves has always been a farmer, and for twelve years ran a thresher in connection with his other work. He was married in 1872 to Laura J. Schenk. They have had three chil- dren— Mary A., Lizzie E. and Alice B. Mr. Graves owns a good farm of 120 acres, three miles southwest of Yelvington. Taylor H. Graves^ born in Yelvington Precinct, Nov. 28, 1847, is a son of Eice E. Graves, a native of Goochland County, Ya. He was reared a farmer and now owns eighty acres of the old home- stead. His education was received in this precinct. In 1878 he married Nancy C. Shadric, daughter of James Shadric. They have four children — Will T., Frank, Yirginia N. , and Bill E. "When Mr. Graves's father left Yirginia he intended going to Mis- souri. They came down the river on the steamer Star of the West, and when opposite Captain Oglesby's farm, just below Cloverport, their boat was run into and sunk by the steamer Hathaway. The family were all saved, two of his brothers, James F. and Yarland, by jumping astride a barrel of whisky. They were afterward car- ried ashore by Captain Lamb, who swam ashore with first one and then the other on his back. He also cut the horses loose and all were saved except one that he could not reach. Jolin 0. Hathway (deceased) was born in Owensboro, Ky., Nov. 16, 1832. He was a son of John Hathway, a native of Maine and an early settler of this county. He received his education in Owensboro, and on reaching manhood chose the occupation of a farmer. He was married Nov. 5, 1868, to Mollie E. Davis, daughter of Edmimd Davis, now of Missouri. One son was born to them — John Murray, now thirteen years of age. Mr. Hathway died Aug. 8, 1881. He owned a farm of 200 acres, where his wife and son now reside. He was a kind husband and father, charitable and kind-hearted, always ready to assist in building schools and.all public improvements, and wasconstantly endeavoring to make oth- ers happy. Digitized by Microsoft® 862 HI8T0EY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Benjamin W . Hawes, Sr. (deceased), was born in Virginia in 1809, and was brought by bis parents, Kichard and Glara ("Walker) Hawes, to Kentucky in 1810. His education was received in the early subscription-schools, he being reared to the life of a farmer. He was an enterprising man and a successful farmer, owning at the time of his death several hundred acres. He married Mary A. Taylor, daughter of Hon. Samuel M. Taylor. Of their ten children bat seven are living — Samuel T., Mildred, Catharine, Benj. W., Susan, Edwin and Hettie. Mr. Hawes died in 1861. Benjamin W. Hawes, Jr., son of Benjamin W. Hawes (de- ceased), was born in Daviess County, Oct. 9, 1845. He is engaged in farming, having been reared to that occupation, and owns 140 acres of well-improved land two miles northwest of Telvington. He was married in 1876 to Hannah Bright, daughter of Geo. M. Bright, of Shelby County. A few months after their marriage Mrs. Hawes died, g,nd in December, 1881, Mr. Hawes married her sister, Minnie S. Bright. They have one child — George B. Mr. Hawes is a member of the Baptist church. • Richard Hawes (deceased), a native ot Virginia, came to Ken- tucky in 1810, locating first in Fayette County. He soon after re- moved to what is now known as the Burke farm, near Louisville, and resided there till 1820, when he came to Daviess County, settling in Yelvington Precinct. He bought large tracts of land in this and Hancock counties and donated the land for the town site ol Hawesville. He was an energetic man and amassed a fortune, be- ing one of the wealthiest men of the county at the time of his death. He gave employment to many and was well and favorably known in Daviess and Hancock counties, both as a kind employer and a respected citizen. He died in 1829. His wife was Clara Walker, and to them were born ten children, but two now living — "Walker, of Saturia, on the island of Matagorda, off the coast of Texas, and "William R, of Owensboro. Samuel, Ann (Mrs. "William Coleman), Eichard, Hon. Albert G., Dr. Aylett, Edwin, Benj. "W., and Susan E. (Mrs. J. G. Taylor) are deceased. MoTGus D. Hoard was born in "Woodford County, Ky., March 12, 1801. His father, Edwin Hoard, a native of Virginia, came to "Woodford County, Ky., when a young man; was a soldier in the Indian war, under General Anthony "Wayne; removed with his family to Mason County, Ky., when a young man. Edwin Hoard was engaged in one of the most remarkable law suits in the history of America, lasting forty years. It was with General Bodley, Mr. Digitized by Microsoft® YELVINGTON rEECINCT. 863 Hughes and Alex. Marsliall, concerning some land in Mason County, Ky ., then in Virginia, patented by William Coghill. Mr. Hoard finally gained the suit. Marcus Hoard was married in 1840, to Mary W. Parker. Of their seven children three are now living — William E., Jane (now Mrs. I. W. Whayne) and Mary L. Mr. Hoard came to Daviess County in 1851. Prior to coming here he worked at the carpenter's trade, buthas been a farmer since coming to this county. He owns a farm of sixty acres two miles northeast of Yelvington. Mr. Hoard has served as Justice of the Peace seven years, and Deputy Clerk of Daviess Coun„y two years. He, politically, was a Whig before the war, but since then he has affili- ated with the Democratic party. Mr. Hoard has been a member of the Baptist church fifty-two years. He is a nephew of the Hon. J. J. Crittenden, who so distinguished himself in Congress. William E. Hoard, son of Marcus D. and Sarah W. (Parker) Hoard, was born iu Mason County, Ky., Jan. 2, 1844, and came to this county with his parents in 1851. He was married Nov. 3, 1870, to Hester A., daughter of Daniel Colbert. They have four children — William, Marcus, Francis T. and Jesse M. During the late war Mr. Hoard enlisted in Company C, First Kentucky Con- federate Cavalry, under General Wheeler. He was at the battles of Chickamauga, Perryville, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Look out Mountain, Peach-Tree Creek, Jonesboro and others. Surren- dered on Savannah River, near Washington, Ga., in 1865. He received but two flesh wounds and was not sick a day during his service in the army. Joseph Kelly (deceased), a native of Kentucky, born June 13, 1804, was a son of Joseph Kelly, a native of Yirginia, but an early settler of Kentucky. When Joseph was a small boy the family removed to Henry County, Ky., where he was reared and educated. In the spring of 1836 he came to Daviess County and bought 1,000 acres in the forks of Panther Creek, and cleared about 500 acres of it. In 1853 he came to this precinct and purchased 700 acres, afterward buying still more. He was one of the largest land-owners in this county. He owned a saw and grist mill which he carried on several years. Sept. 23, 1834, Mr. Kelly married Nancy J., daughter of Abraham Smith. Five children were born to them, four now living — Abraham, Mary E., Joseph S. and Araminta D. Josephine II. was married and at her death left a family. Mrs. Kelly died Oct. 7, 1845. Oct. 2, 1849, Mr. Kelly married Harriet C, daughter of Christopher Junes. Of their ten Digitized by Microsoft® 864 HISTORY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. children but eight are living — Emma, Katie, Vespucius, Williana J., Belle, Hattie D., Floris and Griffin. Mr. Kelly died April 14, 1872. William H. Mills, born in Logan (then Simpson) County, Ky., Sept. 17, 1809, wa^a son of John Mills, a native of Georgia. He was educated in the early log-cabin subscription school, his time being mostly spent at work on the farm. He also worked at the carpenter's trade with his father, and after reaching manhood piloted ilatboats to New Orleans several years. In the fall of 1825 he came to Daviess County and has since resided here with the exception of nine months spent in Hancock County. He owns a farm of 110 acres four miles north of Yelvington. He was mar- ried in 1835 to Sally A. Estes. Six children we.re born to them, but fonr now living — Monroe L., Ferdinand C, Kobert J. and Paulina. Mrs. Mills died in 1855. In August, 1859, Mr. Mills married Mrs. Cynthia Forbis, daughter of Kev. Hiram Kallam. They have had two children, but one now living, a son twenty years of age. Mrs. Mills has one son by her former marriage, James jj. Forbis. Worden Riddle was born in Nelson County, Ky., Nov. 11, 1825, son of Thomas Kiddle, a native of Frankfort, Ky. He came to Daviess County in 1848, and located in Yelvington Pre- einct, where he now owns ninety-seven acres of good land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Just prior to coming here he married Ann, daughter of Charles Nettle. Five children have been born to them, but three now living — John, William and Laui'a Bell. Mr. Riddle and family are members of the Macedonia Eaptist church. ColuTnbus C. Roberts was born in Yelvington Precinct, July 30, 2842. His father, Willis Roberts, is also a native of this pre- cinct, born Sept. 8, 1814. His grandfather. Merry Roberts, was a pioneer of Yelvington. He had eight children, six living — Willis, James M., Ferguson, George W., Lafayette and Minerva A. Willis married Nancy J. Hudson, and to them were born nine children, eight now living — Elizabeth, Columbus C, Sarah, Eli- nor, Viola, Edwin, Alfred and Mary. Columbus 0. was married in 1872 to Selina J, Estes, daughter of William L. Estes. They have live children — Arlevie, Allen M., William F., Charles C. and Mary J. Mr. Roberts owns a good farm of about ninety-seven acres three miles from Yelvington . Oeorge W. Roberts was born in Yelvington Precinct, July 3, 1827. His father was a native of Henry County, Ky., and an Digitized by Microsoft® YELVING'rON PBECINCl'. 865 early settler of Daviess Coanty. Mr. Roberts still lives on the old homestead, in what is known as the Iron Kill settlement, thirty acres of his farm being on the hill. He owns a farm of 180 acres. He was married in 1850 to Mary N. Potts. Of their six children but fonr are living — Minerva E. (Mrs. Price), Martha O. (Mrs. Wells), William S. and John M. One son, Thomas, died at the age of fourteen. Mrs. Roberts died, and Mr. Roberts afterward married Lutitia V. Hollingsworth. Seven children have been born to them, but six now living — Seymour, Gilmore, Josephine, Jen- nie, Myrtie and Maud W. J. D. Russell, M. D., born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., Jan. 22, a 846, is a son of F. J. Russell, a native of the same county, who removed with his family to Fayette' Coanty, Ky., when J. D. was small. He was reared in that county and educated at the Georgetown (Ky.) College. He graduated from the old Kentucky school of medicine at Louisville in the spring of 1870, and settled in Yelvington immediately afterward, where he has built up a large practice. In the spring of 1871 he married Clara, daughter of Edwin Hawes. Two children have been born to them, only one livino- — James D. A daughter, Mary, died at the age of five years. Nelson B. Schenk, born in Kanawha County, W. Va., Mirch 21, 1831, is a son of Richard F. Sclienk, a native of Albemarle County, Va., who moved with his family to Kentucky, and lo- cated in Jefferson County. Nelson B. Schenk came to Daviess Countv in 1861. That same year he married Fannie Beauchell. They have two children — Mary A. and James E. Mr. Schenk's nncle, John Schenk, was a soldier in the Mexican war, under Colo- nel Thompson. Benjamin /ShadwickwAS born in Nelson County, Ky., May 13, 1824. . His father, Thomas Shadwick, was a native of Virginia and an early settler of Nelson County. His early education was iinited to the log-cabin subicription schools, he having to work on the farm. His parents came to Daviess County in 1824, and lie lias always lived here with the exception of six years spent in Han- cock County, just across from Blackford. He now owns a farm of 1 56 acres three miles northeast of Yelvington. He was married in August, 1850, to Martha Oliver. Four children were born to them, only three now living — Milly, Thomas and Barbara. Mrs. Khadwick died in August, 1S6U. In 1861 Mr. Shadwick married Elizabeth Edwards. They have eight children— Lydia, Benjamin, Nancy, Josephine, Mary, Palestine, Elizabeth and Horace D. S. Digitized by Microsoft® 866 HISTOEY OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Harold Smeathers, born in Yelv^ington Precinct, Oct. 27, 1828, is a son of Asa Smeathers, also of tliis precinct. He received his education in the subscription schools of this locality, and was reared to work on a farm, wiiich vocation he still pursues. He owns a farm of 145 acres three and a half miles east of Yelvington, where he is engaged both in farming and stock-raising. He was married in February, 1858, to Sarah M., daughter of Stephen Thorn- berry. Eight children have been boi-n to them, only iive now liv- ing— Catharine, Ella, George C, Alonzo and Jerome H. Mr. Smeathers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. William N. Spilnvan was born in Henry Countj^ Ky., Dec. 8, 1836. His father, Henry Spilman, came from Virginia to Ken- tucky in 1832. William N. was reared and educated in Henry County. His father was a tailor, and he clerked in his store at different times. He came to Daviess County in December, 1863. He served as School Trustee about ten years, and superintended the building of Chestnut Grove school-house. He is a member of the I. O. G. T., and was Master of the Grange at Chestnut Grove, when it existed. In 1859 Mr. Spilman married Martha L., daughter of Jonathan Dean, of Henry County. They liave two children — Jonathan D. and William H. Alfred Thrustoii, born in Marshall, Texas, Aug. 20, 1S48, was a son of Hon. Algernon S. Thruston, a native of Louisville, Ky. , born in 1801. He raised a company in Louisville, and went to Texas and assisted her to gain her independence. He was a Colonel under General Scott, and was afterward a member of Gov^ ornor Huston's cabinet in the '• Lone Star " State. He left Texas in 1850, and lived a while in Florida, tiien in Illinois, and in l^bi-. came to Daviess County, where he died in Marcii, 1K63. After leaving Texas he engaged in agricultural ])ursuits. He married Harriet C. Jacques, a native of St. Louis, Mo., and a daughter of Benjamin Jacques, an early settler of Texas. Nine children were born to them, only four now living — Alfred and Mr#. S. T. Speed (twins), Mrs. C. P. Tood, and Mrs. 0. Ai. Tood. Alfred Thrus- ton owns 160 acres of good land, and is an enterprising firmer of this precinct. He is a member of the Knights of Pytliias. Josephus Tnrnlmm (deceased), sun of Jcilin Turnhatn, was born in Shelby County, Kj., in J SOS. He was mairied Jan. 8, 1840, to Emily J., daughter of James Vecch. Three children Mere born to them, all deceased. Two died in infancy, and one daughter, Marietta, grew to maturity and married Frank Roberts. She left a son, Josephus, who, since his mother's death, has re-^ided with Digitized by Microsoft® VEI.VINGTON PKECINCT. 867 his grandmother. He is now twenty-four years of age. He mar- ried Ella HoUis. Mr. Turnham at one time owned 480 acres of land, bnt portions of it have been sold, till now Mrs. Turnham owns but 280 acres. Mr. Turnham died in 1869. William T. Walker^ of Yelvingtoii, was born in this county May 7, 1838. IJis father, Richard Walker, was an early settler in Da- viess County, coming from Virginia. Mr. Walker's boyhood days were spent on the farm, and he received a common-school educa- tion. For six years he was engaged in ranniiif logs to Evansville. He then bought a half interest in a portable saw-mill, which he ran for three years. He has been constantly engaged in the lum- bering and saw-mill business since 1872. His mill is now located on the land of Bowlds and Higdon, in Kuottsville Precinct. The mill is of the Blandy make. Mr. Walker was married March 18- 1860, to Margaret, daughter of Harry Eoberts. They have had nine children, eight of whom are living — Josephine, Martha H., Samuel T., Strawther D., William H., Lena, Ernest ani Eichard. One daughter, Lizzie, died at the age of iive years. Mr, Walker is a Mason, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Simeon D. Webier, born in Wilson County, Tenn., Oct. 9, 1837, is a son of James J. Webber (deceased), a native of Virginia. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and now owns 204^ acres of valuable land, all made by his own industry and good manage- ment, three miles northeast of Yelvington. During the war of the Eebellionhe enlisted in Company B, Seventh Tennessee Regi- ment, and served four years. He was in the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines's Mills, Jirst Bull Run and others. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Webber went to Hancock County, Ky., and in 1870 came to Daviess County. Nov. 16, 1867, he married Bettie SuUi, van. Tliey have eight children — James M., William H, Robert H., John T.,Mary E., Sarah J., Irene H. and George B. Emmett Wells was born in Daviess County, Ky., June 8, 1852. His father, James C. Wells, now of Knottsville Precinct, was born in Shelby County, Ky., and came to Daviess County in 1842, and married Sallie A. I3ell. Of their four children but two are living — Emmett and William D. Emmett was reared a farmer, and is now engaged in that occupation, owning a farm of sixty acres, two and ahalf miles southeast of Yelvington. He received a common- school education. Oct. 28, 1874, he married Laura Bell, daughter of Worden Riddle. Three children have been born to them, but two now living — Charles and James Worden. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Baptist church. Digitized by Microsoft® APPENDIX. The t'ollowiiig biographies were sent to the publishers too late to be inserted in their proper places : Cornelius T. Cain^ the leading photographer of Owensboro, west side of Fiederica, between Third and Fourth streets, is a na- tive of Indiana, born in Danville, Hendricks County. When a child lie removed with his parents to Miami County, Ind., and attended the graded and high sohools of Peru, until seventeen, when he began to learn ihe art of pliutograpliy. In 1868 be went to Lou- isville, Ky., and in Deeembtr, 1873, located in Owensboro. He is not only the best artist in Owensboro but is one of the leading photographers of the State. He has a iirst-class studio, and is prepared to do any kind nt photography known to modern artists. His father was Coi-nelius Cain, a native of Virginia, where he married Miss Anna Keplinger, also a native of Virginia. His mother w^is a member of the Baptist church, and his father of the JEethodlst Ejtiscopal church. They had a family of five sons and three daughters, of whom C. T. was the youngest. His grand- fatlter, Clorneliiis Cain, was in the war of the Revolution, and at one time owned the land where Owensboro, Daviess Co., Ky., now stands. Ron. Clinton Gri-ffith, of Owensborci, born one and a half miles southwest of Owensboro, Daviefs County, Oct. 18, 1832, is a son of Wm.R. and Arrie(Moseley) G-riflith. His father was a native of Ma- ryland and came to Hartford, Ky., about 1800, with, his father, Joshua Griffith, when a child. He came to Daviess County and set- tled iiear Lewis Station, before Daviess County was cut off from Ohio. Jlis m<)ther was born in Virginia, a daughter of Captain Tom Moscley, a very old settler of Daviess Countj'. lie was one of the tirst sottlers of Owensboro, and his old residence is still stand- ing oil Main street, in the ujiper ])art of town, a part of the Dun- la)) ]iio\v property. The house is a two-story frame, and is in a goi.d st.itc. (if preservation. Tliis is about the oldest house in town, and when tirst built was in the woods. Mrs. Moseley was a Miss AVarkins, cousin of(Teneral Watkins, of Missouri. .Mr. iiidgely OrirHth, fathei- of the sub'eet of our sketch, wa.i elected several Digitized by Microsoft® APPENDIX. 869 times as a Representative from Daviess County to the Senate and Lower House. He died in December, 1848. Mrs. Griffith died in 1832. They had four son?, two living — Daniel M., real estate agent, and Clinton. Clinton attended tlie Hartford schools until sixteen, when he entered college at Lexington, and graduated at the Transylvania College in 1849. He was elected as Director of the old Southern Bank before twenty-one years of age. In August, 1869, he was elected a Kepresentative to the Lower House of the Kentucky Legislature; re-elected August, 1871, and elected Senator ill August, 1877. He is an extensive land owner and resides on the old homestead of his father, one and a half miles southwest of town. He married in November, 1853, Mary Crawford, a daughter of James Crawford. She died in 1865. They bad three children, two now living — Elizabeth S., wife of John G.Weir, and Wm. R. attorney of Owensboro. Mr.' Griffith married Miss Anna Belle "Weir, in November, 1868. She was the daughter of James and Susan (Green) Weir. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have five children — Susan, James W., Allen, Arria and Clinton J. Mrs. Griffith is a member of the Old School Presbyterian church. The family is of Welsh and English descent. The first Griffith settled in Baltimore, prior to the Revolutionary war. He had three sons; one settled in North Carolina, one in Baltimore and one in Philadelphia. The first Griffith settled in Baltimore when quite young, leaving, as be supposed, a barren waste, which afterward became very valuable in coal and minerals, and is now supposed to be in the possession of Welsh claimants, the American Griffiths having made no attempt to recover it, through the advice of John J. Crittenden, who was U. S. Senator from Kentucky. J. F. Hager, bookkeeper for F. T. Gunther & Co., Owensboro, was born in Owensboro, March 23, 1853. He was the fifth child of a family of four sons and two daughters of Henry and Sophia Hager. He was educated in the public and private schools of Owensboro and business college of Evans ville, where he graduated. He is a member of K. of P., Star Lodge, No. 19, Owensboro. In politics he is a Democrat. W. J. Lucas, jailer, was born in St. Mary's County, Md., a son of William and Alice (Sparks) Lucas. Soon after his birth they removed to Virginia. His parents both died when he was very young, and at an early age he was apprenticed to the carriage- maker's trade. He afterward learned the painter's trade. At the outbreaking of the late war he was one of the first to enlist in the Digitized by Microsoft® S70 APPENDIX. Confederate service, remaining in the service until the close of the war. lie enlisted as a private and was promoted to Lieutenant- During his service as a soldier lie acted as a scout and spy, and was entrusted with many offices and duties that required courage and shrewdness. In all instances he performed his duties with perfect satisfaction. At one time he captured his own brother, Luther W. Lucas, who was in the Federal service. Mr. W. J. Lucas was wounded, a bullet passing through his left cheek and lodging in his windpipe, and for a time his life was despaired of. In 1872 he came to Owensb')ro and worked at the painter's trade until 1882, when he was elected to his present position. He was married to Mildred Summers, Oct. 4, 1865. She was born iu Fairfax County, Va., and is a daughter of Wm. F. and Mariana (Johnson) Summers. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have six children — Thomas M., A. Blanch, G. Summers, Forrest F., Eegina B. and Anna B. M. V. Monarch, President of the Sour-Masli Distilling Company, Owensboro, was burn in Daviess County, Ky., March 10, 1842- His parents, Thomas and Susan (Daveiss) Monarch, had a family of ten children, only six now living — William H., Thomas J., Kich- ard, Miranda J. (wife of Thomas J. O'Bryan), M. V., and Syl- vester. M. V. attended private schools in Owensboro till twenty - two years of age, and then entered Cecilian College. After leaving school he engaged in the tobacco business till 1868. Since then ho has been manufacturino; his celebrated hand-made sour- mash whiskies. Commencing life with limited means he went bravely to work, and by industry and business integrity has placed himself among the leading distillers of the country, his brands of whisky being sold in most of the States and Territories. IJe has offices in New York and Louisville, and agents in Chicago, 111., and Galveston, Te.xas, and employs three or four traveling sales- men. Mr. Monarch was miirried Sept. 20, 1869, to Elizabeth A. O'Brj'an, a native of Meade County, Ky., and a daughter i>f ¥7illiara and Mary A. (Vowels) O'Bryan. Six children have been born to them, live now living — Henry L., born May 11, 1872; Daniel, Aug. 14, 1874; A. Ermenie, June 11, 1876; M. V., Jr., Sept. 14, 1S78; Bineta, May 23, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Monarch are members of the Catholic church. He is President of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In pulitics he is a Democrat. Digitized by Microsoft® '^'^■^ -^^^^^^.16^. Digitized by Microsoft® /- ^J^.ty /? ^^^ zy--i-^i^ Digitized by Microsoft® fS, 0^-^ "KYlZ-^yiP Digitized by Microsoft® ¥■' a Digitized by Microsoft® ^: ^/^m:ciuo £A^ ^/^^ Digitized by Microsoft® y/^j:^^ ^^. Digitized by Microsoft® Digitized by Microsoft® r^^ /•'-f-. ■7'-? 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